Morocco is strengthening efforts to protect its biodiversity, with 38 wetlands recognised under the Ramsar Convention and a national assessment now informing the country’s conservation priorities. The assessment, involving 124 experts from 45 institutions, examines the state of ecosystems, species and biodiversity-related pressures, providing evidence for stronger protection and sustainable resource management.
Safeguarding Morocco’s natural heritage is gaining momentum, with 38 wetlands recognised under the Ramsar Convention and a national biodiversity assessment involving 124 experts from 45 institutions guiding conservation priorities. From forests and wetlands to wildlife and mountain ecosystems, Morocco is strengthening protected-area management and integrating biodiversity into sustainable development. As part of these efforts, a scientific seminar held in Ifrane on 27 July 2026 examined how research, sustainable practices and local knowledge can help protect fragile ecosystems.
We addressed several topics related to this ecosystem and how to preserve it through practical and scientific approaches that take sustainable development and the needs of future generations into consideration.
Mohamed El Ribi, Expert in Natural Resource Conservation
Morocco’s conservation approach also increasingly recognises the role of communities in protecting ecosystems. Traditional knowledge and locally developed practices can complement scientific methods, particularly in areas where communities have long depended on natural resources.
My presentation focused on a number of activities carried out by local associations to help preserve biodiversity, not only through scientific methods, but also by drawing on traditional practices that have been used for generations.
El Houcine Aaba, University Professor
The North African country is increasingly combining scientific research, community knowledge and stronger ecosystem management to protect its biodiversity. The priority now is to turn these approaches into concrete conservation measures that safeguard natural resources while supporting sustainable livelihoods and long-term development.
