ANDZOA Provincial Director Urges Need to Protect Morocco's Oases

Rabat — Morocco's oasis ecosystems face severe threats from climate change, requiring urgent scientific intervention to ensure their survival, according to a National Agency for the Development of Oasis and Argan Zones (ANDZOA) official.
Bounhar El Habib, ANDZOA's provincial director in the eastern Moroccan town of Figuig, spoke to Morocco World News (MWN) during the second International Congress on Oases and Date Palm (CIO) held May 22-23 in Ouarzazate.
The event brought together researchers from Morocco, Africa, the Arab world, and Europe to address mounting challenges facing these fragile desert environments.
El Habib said the congress sought 'to preserve, develop, sustain, and ensure the longevity of our oases — which are in a vulnerable situation,' adding that 'it is very important to encourage and bring together scientists to identify and address problems emerging from the field.'
Research focus on three key areas
Speaking of the congress' contribution to the development and preservation of oases against climate change, El Habib said it organized its work around three critical themes.
Researchers examined the physical environment of oases, plant biology, and socioeconomic factors affecting territorial development.
The Ministry of Agriculture departments, ANDZOA, the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), and other partners collaborated to organize the event. ANDZOA presided over the organizing committee and handled logistics.
'This year, the event is organized by departments of the Ministry of Agriculture, ANDZOA, INRA, and other partners committed to ensuring the success of the congress,' El Habib explained.
Read also: New Farming Method Saves Bees While Boosting Income in Morocco's Oases
Climate pressures mount
El Habib, who oversees Figuig province, one of Morocco's largest by area, which houses renowned oases including Figuig, Bouanane, Ain Chair, and Ain Chouater, shared that these areas produce unique date varieties like the endemic 'Aziza of Figuig.'
The official described how climate change threatens these ecosystems through 'recurring years of drought, water shortages, disease, fires, and severe flooding that threaten and damage these oases.'
ANDZOA presided over the congress organizing committee alongside the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), and other partners.
Researchers focused on three key areas: the physical environment of oases, plant biology, and socioeconomic development.
Regional cooperation essential
Most Moroccan oases sit near the Algerian border, creating opportunities for cross-border collaboration, El Habib noted, pointing out that the congress provided a platform for regional dialogue.
'Most of the oases are situated near the border with our Algerian neighbors. So, this is an opportunity to meet, discuss major challenges, and draw on scientific research to find pathways that will improve conditions,' he said.
El Habib stressed that these oases 'act as barriers against desertification and are located along the border of the Sahara,' making their preservation crucial for Morocco's environmental security.
The congress aimed to support both traditional oases and expansion efforts while finding practical solutions to ensure the sustainability of these vital ecosystems. Tags: ADZOAclimate changeMoroccan oasesOases in Morocco

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Morocco World

2 days ago

• Morocco World

Moroccan High School Robotics Team Wins First Place at US Global Competition

Rabat – The Moroccan robotics team 'Robotics For Future' from the 11 Janvier High School in Moulay Yacoub has won first place at the World Robotics Championship at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). The event took place in Massachusetts, United States, with the participation of 108 teams from across the world. The Moroccan team was recognized in the Robot Performance category, according to a statement from the Ministry of Education. 'Throughout the competition, the team delivered an outstanding performance, further distinguished by the selection of their innovative project as one of the best at the championship,' added the statement. It noted that the team showcased their project on the main stage in front of all participants. The Moroccan robotics team 'Robotics For Future' This marks Robotics For Future's second win at the championship, having earned the same title last year. This victory is 'the result of months of dedicated work and ambition,' says the ministry. Meanwhile, the Moulay Yacoub province says this international recognition reflects the progress being made in the fields of education and innovation, as well as the strong support provided to young talents and local initiatives. The province added that it has helped the team take part in national and international competitions and supported the creation of a special robotics space. This space was built for the team for MAD 271,750, as part of a program that supports youth development. A new innovative project is also planned for 2025. The upcoming project aims to boost creativity and develop digital and technical skills in robotics and programming. It is a partnership between the Provincial Human Development Committee, the Ministry of Education's local office, and the Matrix Association for education and cultural development. The project, launched on the 20th anniversary of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), will benefit over 4,000 students in the province and has a total budget of MAD 600,000. Tags: MoroccoroboticsstudentsUS

Maroc

3 days ago

• Maroc

Casablanca's Cheikh Khalifa Hospital Performs First Robotic Surgery

The Cheikh Khalifa International University Hospital in Casablanca has performed its first robotic surgery, the hospital said on Tuesday, marking a milestone in the facility's adoption of advanced surgical technologies. The procedure, a prostatectomy, was conducted by a fully Moroccan medical team led by Professor Abdejalil Heddat, a urological surgery specialist, using the Da Vinci surgical system — a globally recognized robotic platform known for its precision and minimally invasive capabilities. The hospital said the robot-assisted surgery provides enhanced visualisation and precision for surgeons, while reducing incision size, blood loss, and patient recovery time. 'This first robotic procedure represents a significant advancement in our hospital's development,' said Professor Khalid Sair, General Director of the hospital and a general surgery specialist. 'It is the result of extensive training and preparation of our surgical teams.' Beyond urology, the hospital plans to expand the use of robotic surgery to other specialties, including colorectal, pancreatic, hepatic, gastric, thoracic, and gynecological procedures, with potential applications in ENT and cardiovascular surgery, Sair added. The introduction of robotic surgery forms part of the hospital's broader strategy to modernize its infrastructure and improve healthcare quality through technology-driven innovation.

Ya Biladi

7 days ago

• Ya Biladi

How forest growth shaped Iberomaurusian lifeways in northeastern Morocco

The Iberomaurusian, a prehistoric archaeological culture that flourished in North Africa between 25,000 and 10,000 years ago, underwent significant lifestyle changes during the Greenland Interstadial 1 climate phase, which favored the expansion of forest cover. In a groundbreaking study based on excavations at Morocco's Taforalt and Rhafas sites, a team of Moroccan and international researchers reconstructed these environmental and cultural shifts. Their initial findings reveal a close connection between forest expansion and altered land-use behaviors, profoundly impacting diet. Published on Thursday, June 12, 2025, the study, conducted by researchers from American, French, German, and British universities alongside Morocco's National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage Sciences (INSAP), notably identifies early exploitation of storable plant foods like oak and pine at Taforalt, coinciding with intensified site occupation. Amidst abundant local nut-bearing trees and a regional rise in human population density, social organization in the region likely became more complex, according to the research titled « Expansion of forest cover and coeval shifts in Later Stone Age land-use at Taforalt and Rhafas Caves, Morocco, as inferred from carbon isotopes in ungulate tooth enamel». This period, known as the Late Stone Age, featured distinctive stone tools, organic materials, and symbolic artifacts, but more importantly, it marked significant shifts in land use compared to earlier phases. There was a clear reorganization of resource exploitation and group mobility, reshaping usage patterns at sites such as Taforalt, Ifri el Baroud, and Ifri n'Ammar. The Late Stone Age also saw increased accumulation of anthropogenic sediments dominated by ash, reflecting higher occupation intensity and greater use of fire. Additionally, more cemeteries emerged, such as those at Taforalt and Afalou in Algeria, with at least 90 and 58 individuals buried, respectively. At Taforalt, evidence points to a growing reliance on plants in the human diet, supported by ground stone tools, abundant macrobotanical remains, stable isotope analysis of human teeth, and increased dental caries. Expanded diets in northeastern Morocco are also indicated by significant land snail remains found alongside ash layers at Ifri el Baroud, Ifri n'Ammar, and Taforalt. Samples from Barbary sheep and gazelles at Taforalt and Rhafas show a 1.5 to 2‰ decrease during the Greenland Interstadial 1. However, equids and alcelaphines, which prefer open grassy areas, did not show such changes, suggesting that wooded mountain and hill habitats were primarily affected by the GI-1 climate interval locally. Researchers argue this points to high-altitude forest expansion and canopy filling near Taforalt and Rhafas during this time. While the broader geographic extent remains unclear, similar changes are noted at Ifri el Baroud, 80 km west of Taforalt. These changes coincide with the start of the gray stratigraphic series at Taforalt, reflecting marked shifts in hunter-gatherer land-use behaviors. These shifts include intensive use of acorns and pine nuts, indirect evidence of plant processing and storage, high artifact and food waste concentrations despite heavy sedimentation, and the emergence of a cemetery at the cave's rear. Early Signs of Food Transformation and Storage The researchers interpret these archaeological indicators as evidence of stronger, more permanent ties to the site. Collectively, these features suggest longer stays at Taforalt, with plant food exploitation, especially storable forest resources, as a major activity, accompanied by an expanded diet and increased investment in food processing. The increased tree productivity during GI-1 likely contributed to the intensive use of the site. Coupled with rising regional human population densities and higher primary productivity, these factors supported stronger human presence not only at Taforalt and Rhafas but across present-day Morocco. The study also notes preliminary signs that these behavioral patterns emerged during the later, cooler, and drier Heinrich 1 phase, consistent with data from Taforalt's rich archaeological record. Notably, the increased forest productivity during GI-1 coincided with intense acorn consumption, which was processed and likely stored. These starchy foods are rich in fermentable carbohydrates, which can accelerate enamel demineralization, especially when ground or cooked, explaining the dental evidence in human remains from the period, alongside indications of food drying for storage. To further clarify landscape evolution and decisive changes in land use by hunter-gatherers during this critical interval, researchers emphasize the need for additional dating and paleoenvironmental analyses. These next steps will enable more precise timing of these developments.