Ikrame Selkani* |
Corresponding Author: Ikrame Selkani, University of Granada, Spain |
Received: 23 April 2020; Revised: 09 May, 2020; Accepted: 11 May 2020 |
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The
management of protected areas in Morocco involves the intervention of several
ministerial departments: Agriculture, water and forestry, fisheries, water
management territory, town planning and housing, environment, interior, public
health, energy and mines, tourism, etc. The creation of a protected area must pursue
specific, previously defined objectives corresponding to the protection of
natural ecosystems, the safeguarding of species of fauna or flora or the
conservation of sites of particular biological, ecological, scientific,
cultural, educational or recreational interest, or which contain natural
landscapes of great aesthetic value.
Keywords: Natural hertiage, Biodiversity,
Sustainability, Conservation, Restoration.
Managing protected areas
Generally
speaking, the management of protected areas in Morocco involves the intervention
of several ministerial departments: Agriculture, water and forestry, fisheries,
water management territory, town planning and housing, environment, interior,
public health, energy and mines, tourism, etc.
The way national parks are managed has
one that is directed towards the protection and conservation of protected
species. These actions are articulated as follows:
-
Ensuring as main mission the conservation and rehabilitation of
the Bald Ibis population.
-
Integrate local populations by involving them in the management
of certain natural resources and thus allowing them to benefit directly from
the park’s advantages.
-
Generate revenue and contribute to local and regional economic
development.
The
establishment of a national park has 4 objectives:
-
Conserve, rehabilitate and conserve natural and cultural
resources.
-
Contribute to sustainable local development by reconciling
conservation imperatives and the need for economic and social development.
-
Promote awareness and increase the sensitivity of stakeholders
and visitors through an environmental awareness and education program.
-
To develop scientific
research.
PROTECTION OF THE
NATURAL HERITAGE
The importance of preserving and protecting natural heritage has proven to
be more important than expected. In this sense, the Moroccan political powers
decided to promulgate a Dahir on national parks, promulgated in 1934, and the
first two national parks of Morocco were created: Toubkal, in 1942, and
Tazekka, in 1950.
However, the development of protected areas in Morocco has changed since
1992, the date of the United Nations on Environment and Development (Rio
Summit, 1992).
On that date and on that occasion, Morocco did not go unnoticed was one of
the first countries to sign the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the
Rio Summit. This convention makes Morocco responsible for adopting measures
aimed at preserving biological diversity and ensuring that the distribution of
biodiversity is sustainable.
In 1995, Morocco thus clearly committed itself to
contribute to the achievement of the objectives of this convention, which are
as follows:
-
The conservation of biological diversity
-
The sustainable use of its components, and
-
The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising
from the use of genetic resources.
As a first step, this commitment has led to the
completion of national biodiversity the study, which has resulted in the
development of a biodiversity strategy and action plan. The action plan on
biodiversity and the master plan for protected areas, carried out in 1996,
enabled Morocco to develop a vision and a roadmap for the conservation and
rehabilitation of its natural environment and, therefore, for an active contribution
to the objectives of the CBD ‘Convention on Biological Diversity’.
Between 1993 and 1995, Morocco carried out a national
study on protected areas, which covered all the country's natural ecosystems
and allowed:
·
An evaluation of the main natural environments
·
An evaluation of the status of endangered, endemic and rare species of
fauna and flora flore
·
The identification of a national network of SIBE, for the establishment of
the master plan of protected areas
·
Proposals
of management methods for the SIBE identified
This study highlighted the richness and biological
diversity that Morocco has to offer. It also showed that the Moroccan forest
constitutes the founding element of the country’s ecological wealth. It is home
to two-thirds of the plants and one-third of the animal species. In order to
ensure the preservation of this heritage, the study identified a network of
more than 150 Sites of Biological and Ecological Interest (SIBE), covering
about 2.5 million hectares and representing all the natural ecosystems of the
country.
The Master Plan for Protected Areas (PDAP), elaborated in 1996, had
identified 154 Sites of Biological and Ecological Interest (SIBE), covering an
area of about 2.5 million hectares and representing almost all the natural
ecosystems of the country. The implementation of this plan made it possible to
strengthen the national network of protected areas through the creation of six
other National Parks between 2004 and 2008. This brought the number of National
Parks, officially created under the National Parks Act of 1934, to 10, with a
total area of about 750,000 ha.
The Protected
Areas Management Plan is a strategic plan for conservation and development.
Sustainable in its biological, ecological, and cultural dimensions. It is based
on three axes:
·
Conservation and restoration of habitats and species,
through:
o The establishment of
legal status for the protection of wildlife and the flore
o The reintroduction
of wildlife species and the rehabilitation of their habitats
o The development of scientific monitoring tools
·
Valorization of the natural and cultural assets of the
SIBE network, through:
o The realization of
Eco-development projects
o The promotion of
ecotourism
·
Communication, awareness-raising, and education,
through:
o The development and
implementation of educational programs
o Capacity the
building of NGOs
o Development and
implementation of a communication plan on protected areas
Globally, protected areas are considered an essential
element of any strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity.
LAW 22-07: A LAW ON PROTECTED
AREAS
The first legislation that Morocco had on protected areas was the Dahir of
1934, relating to the creation of national parks.
This law led to the creation of 09 national parks, two
of which have maritime facades (or parts), the national parks of Souss Massa
(in 1991) on the Atlantic coast and Al-Hoceima (in 2004) on the Mediterranean
coast.
In order to better respond to these international
principles and adapt to the evolution of the protection of natural heritage,
both regionally and internationally, it had become urgent and imperative to
provide the sector with a legal framework that takes these developments into
account and can adapt to future developments, in harmony with the regional and
international conventions and agreements to which Morocco has subscribed.
For this reason, the new legislation adopted (Law 22 -
07, relating to protected areas) includes not only national parks but also
other categories of protected areas, recognized worldwide, adapting the
criteria applicable to it to the specific conditions of Morocco.
According to Law 22-07, a protected area is defined as
any terrestrial and/or marine space, geographically delimited, duly recognized
and specially developed and managed for the purpose of ensuring the protection,
maintenance and conservation of the environment.
The improvement of biological diversity, the
conservation of natural and cultural heritage, its enhancement, its
rehabilitation for sustainable development, as well as the prevention of its
degradation.
According to this law, a protected
area in Morocco can be classified, according to its characteristics, its
vocation, and its socio-economic scope, in one of the following categories:
o
National Park
o
Natural Park
o
Biological
reserve
o
Nature reserve
o
Natural site
The national park is a natural terrestrial and/or
marine area, in the absolute sense, whose purpose is to protect biological
diversity, landscape and cultural values and/or geological formats presenting a
special interest developed and managed for cultural, scientific, educational,
and recreational and tourism purposes, with respect for the natural environment
and the traditions of neighboring populations.
The natural park is a terrestrial
and/or marine area, containing a natural heritage and ecosystems representing a
particular interest that needs to be protected and enhanced, while ensuring the
maintenance of its ecological functions and the sustainable use of their
natural resources.
The biological reserve is a
terrestrial and/or marine area located exclusively on State land, containing
rare or fragile natural environments of biological and ecological interest,
whose purpose is the conservation of plant or animal species and their habitat,
for scientific and educational purposes.
The nature
reserve is a natural area, terrestrial and/or marine, constituted for the
purpose of conserving and maintaining the good state of sedentary or migratory
fauna, soil, water, fossils and geological and geomorphologic formations of
particular interest that needs to be preserved or reconstituted. It is used for
scientific research and environmental education purposes only.
Natural site is
an area containing one or more specific natural or natural and cultural
elements, of exceptional or unique importance, deserving of protection on account
of their rarity, representativeness, aesthetic qualities or landscape,
historical, scientific, cultural or legendary significance, the conservation or
preservation of which is of general interest.
This overhaul of
the legal framework tends to involve the administrations, local communities and
populations concerned in the process of creating and managing protected areas,
so as to involve them in the sustainable development of these areas.
For the purpose
of preserving biodiversity and natural heritage, protected areas may be
established, under the conditions laid down in this Law and the texts adopted
for its application, for the purpose of conservation, scientific research, the
development and rehabilitation of the natural and cultural heritage, the education
and recreation of citizens, the promotion of ecotourism and the contribution to
development.
The creation of a
protected area must, therefore, pursue specific objectives, defined in advance,
corresponding to the protection of natural ecosystems, the safeguarding of
species of fauna or flora or the conservation of sites which are of particular
interest from the scientific, cultural, educational or recreational point of
view, or which contain natural landscapes of great aesthetic value.
From
Official Bulletin No. 5866, 19 August 2010, pp. 1581-1587 of 16 July 2010.
This law was
promulgated by Dahir No. 1-10-123, which repeals all provisions contrary to
this law, in particular those of Dahir of 30 Joumada I 1353 (11 September 1934)
on the creation of national parks and the texts taken for its application.
Law n° 22-07 relating to
protected areas promulgated by Dahir n° 1-10-123 of 3 Shaaban 1431 (16 July
2010). Praise be to god alone!
Considering the
Constitution, particularly its Articles 26 and 58, has decided the following:
“This was
promulgated by Dahir n ° 1-10-123. This law repeals all provisions contrary to
this law, in particular those of the dahir of 30 joumada I 1353 (September 11,
1934) on the creation of national parks and the texts taken for applying wires.
Done at Al
Hoceima, on 3 Shaaban 1431 (16 July 2010).
For counter
signature:
Abbas El Fassi.
*
* *
Law No. 22-07
relating to protected areas
Preamble”
Morocco has a natural heritage
rich in rare species, natural ecosystems and landscapes of inestimable value
that must be safeguarded and preserved. Aware of the importance of preserving
this national natural heritage, the public authorities have always been
interested in the gradual creation of national parks.
This particular interest has been
strengthened since the Kingdom of Morocco ratified the Convention on Biological
Diversity in 1996, reflecting our country’s commitment to a policy of
sustainable development, which seeks both to safeguard our biological diversity
and to protect endangered species and which is receiving growing support from
international bodies.
This policy which aims in
particular at establishing a national network of protected areas covering
all-natural ecosystems throughout the Kingdom is however governed by old
legislation whose provisions no longer meet the international criteria that
should be applied to protected areas.
In order to better meet these
international criteria and adapt to the evolution that the protection of
natural heritage is undergoing, both at the regional and international levels,
the sector has been provided with a legal framework that takes these evolutions
into consideration and that can adapt to future developments, in harmony with
the regional and international conventions and treaties to which Morocco has
subscribed.
To this end, this law specific to
protected areas encompasses not only national parks, but also other categories
of protected areas, recognized worldwide, adapting the criteria applicable to
it to the specific political and economic context of our country.
This overhaul of
the existing legal framework aims to involve the administrations, local
communities, the population’s concerned and interested actors in the process of
creating and managing protected areas, so as to involve them in the sustainable
development of these areas.
For the purpose of preserving
biodiversity and natural heritage, protected areas may be established, under
the conditions laid down in this Law and the texts adopted for its application,
for the purpose of conserving, developing and rehabilitating the natural and
cultural heritage, scientific research, raising the awareness and entertaining
citizens, promoting ecotourism and contributing to sustainable economic and
social development.
To this end, the creation of a
protected area must pursue specific, previously defined objectives
corresponding to the protection of natural ecosystems, the safeguarding of
species of fauna or flora or the conservation of sites of particular
biological, ecological, scientific, cultural, educational or recreational
interest, or which contain natural landscapes of great aesthetic value.
From Official Bulletin No. 5866,
19 August 2010, pp. 1581-1587 of 16 July 2010. This law was promulgated by
Dahir No. 1-10-123, which repeals all provisions contrary to this law, in
particular those of Dahir of 30 Joumada I 1353 (11 September 1934) on the
creation of national parks and the texts taken for its application.
Law n° 22-07 relating to
protected areas promulgated by Dahir n° 1-10-123 of 3 Shaaban 1431 (16 July
2010).
Praise be to god
alone!
Considering the
Constitution, particularly its Articles 26 and 58, has decided the following:
Is promulgated and will be
published in the Bulletin Official, following this dahir, the law n° 22-07
relating to protected areas, as adopted by the House of Councillors and the
House of Representatives.
Done at Al
Hoceima, on 3 Shaaban 1431 (16 July 2010).
For counter
signature:
The Prime
Minister,
Abbas El Fassi.
Law No. 22-07
relating to protected areas Preamble
Morocco has a natural heritage
rich in rare species, natural ecosystems and landscapes of inestimable value
that must be safeguarded and preserved. Aware of the importance of preserving
this national natural heritage, the public authorities have always been
interested in the gradual creation of national parks.
This particular interest has been
strengthened since the Kingdom of Morocco ratified the Convention on Biological
Diversity in 1996, reflecting our country's commitment to a policy of
sustainable development, which seeks both to safeguard our biological diversity
and to protect endangered species and which is receiving growing support from
international bodies.
This policy, which aims in
particular at establishing a national network of protected areas covering
all-natural ecosystems throughout the Kingdom, is, however, governed by old legislation
whose provisions no longer meet the international criteria that should be
applied to protected areas.
In order to better meet these
international criteria and adapt to the evolution that the protection of
natural heritage is undergoing, both at the regional and international levels,
the sector has been provided with a legal framework that takes these evolutions
into consideration and that can adapt to future developments, in harmony with
the regional and international conventions and treaties to which Morocco has
subscribed.
To this end, this law specific to
protected areas encompasses not only national parks, but also other categories
of protected areas, recognized worldwide, adapting the criteria applicable to
it to the specific political and economic context of our country.
This overhaul of
the existing legal framework aims to involve the administrations, local
communities, the population’s concerned and interested actors in the process of
creating and managing protected areas, so as to involve them in the sustainable
development of these areas.
For the purpose of preserving
biodiversity and natural heritage, protected areas may be established, under
the conditions laid down in this Law and the texts adopted for its application,
for the purpose of conserving, developing and rehabilitating the natural and
cultural heritage, scientific research, raising the awareness and entertaining
citizens, promoting ecotourism and contributing to sustainable economic and
social development.
To this end, the creation of a
protected area must pursue specific, previously defined objectives
corresponding to the protection of natural ecosystems, the safeguarding of
species of fauna or flora or the conservation of sites of particular
biological, ecological, scientific, cultural, educational or recreational
interest, or which contain natural landscapes of great aesthetic value.
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