CAMP Rif Central, Morocco

 

Introduction

Following a decision to elaborate a Feasibility Study for CAMP for the Moroccan part of the Mediterranean, which has been taken jointly by PAP/RAC of MAP and the Moroccan Ministry of Physical Planning, Water and Environment (MATEE), preliminary activities concerning the CAMP Morocco have been launched in 2003.

In order to ensure an active involvement of all the relevant actors, in the first place those at the local level, MATEE has at the beginning of the preliminary phase of the CAMP requested PAP/RAC to organise a presentation workshop. This workshop was held in Fes, on February 14, 2006 (Report). The suggestions and comments made by the participants have allowed PAP/RAC to proceed with the elaboration of the first version of the CAMP Agreement relative to CAMP (June 2006) and to start negotiations relative to its structure and activities. End October 2007 the Agreement for CAMP Rif Centarl, Morocco was signed.

CAMP area

The coastal part of Morocco singled out as a CAMP area is situated at the foot of the central Rif, which is the steepest part of the Rif chain characterised by slopes descending from the peaks right up to the sea where the relief continues to slope above the sea surface. The shelves on the sea board are rare (small plains at the wadi mouths, often very narrow coarse sand or gravel beaches).

The area is situated in the territory of the provinces of Chefchaouen and Al Hoceima. The province of Chefchaouen comprises an urban centre (with 50,000 inhabitants) and 33 rural communes (467,000 inhabitants); whereas the province of Al Hoceima is constituted of the four urban communes (134,000 inhabitants) and 31 rural communes (281,000 inhabitants). This population has in recent years experienced a strong migration, which has been accompanied by a population pressure on the coast.

The dominant activity in this area is agriculture (in particular cultivation and goats breeding). Fisheries is the second important activity of the coastal population being for a long time oriented to the sea. The industrial sector is limited to some small agro-food establishments mainly situated in the area of Al Hoceima. Craft industry benefits from the availability of the raw material (wood, leather, wool, etc.) and above all from the original know-how being very old and various.

Owing to the diversity of its products (landscape, mountains, historic sites, hunting and fishing sites, etc.) just as well to its originality (rare flora and fauna, ancestral know-how, etc.), the CAMP area presents an inestimable tourist value. The province of Chefchaouen has already experienced a notable tourist inflow although it is estimated that this sector has never been promoted and that it is very promising.

Environmental context

The hydrogaphic network is very dense (with more than a dozen of the main water courses). However, the wadis are generally small in length and their watersheds have not a large surface except for the two extreme points in the CAMP area.

The sea water quality is generally good thus making this CAMP area one of the cleanest parts of the entire Mediterranean. This area has since long remained spared of urbanisation impacts and since 1996, the biggest urban centre (Al Hoceima) has been equipped with a wastewater treatment plant.

Although urban sewage networks are saturated and have considerable functioning problems, it should be pointed out that the majority of centres have launched preparation of the studies which envisage important investments for water treatment. Solid waste production is continuously increasing in all the coastal centres, while its elimination always poses serious problems inherent in the lack of space for discharge and non appropriate elimination techniques.

Although generally not well known, biodiversity of the Moroccan coast is very rich in species and above all, in the marine flora at the level of the national park Al Hoceima. Vegetation of humid areas is very poor, whereas the terrestrial vegetation of the watersheds (especially the semi-arid bioclimate) is more or less degraded and presents a general aspect of very fragmented low vegetation formations (oleaster, mastic tree, rockrose, etc.).

Objective of the CAMP

The objective of the CAMP in the coastal area of the central Rif is to contribute to the socio-economic development of the local population through protection and sustainable use of coastal resources. The task would be, by taking the advantage of the synergy MAP - Morocco, to assess natural and cultural assets of the study area, on the one side, and to recommend measures for the management and optimal ways for a balanced and sustainable development of the coastal area, on the other.

Implementation

The strategy of CAMP in the coastal area of the central Rif will be based on the concept of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), which necessarily comprises management of the adjacent watersheds. This strategy will be implemented in conformity with the legal framework and national planning by using the existing land-use planning documents, or those in course of elaboration, as its basic inputs.

Implementation of CAMP in the coastal area of the central Rif will be assured by the teams of national experts who will be guided and assisted by international consultants recruited by MAP. A precondition for a successful implementation of CAMP is an active participation of the local authorities. At the same time, the role of co-ordination and supervision of the central administrative services will be essential

Publications/Documents