Morocco ranked 136th in the 2024 Nature Conservation Index, which evaluates countries' efforts to protect their natural environments, particularly in areas like land management, biodiversity threats, and conservation capacity. Morocco ranked 136th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Nature Conservation Index (NCI), which evaluates how well countries protect their natural environments. The ranking is based on factors such as the number of endangered plant and animal species, the size and quality of protected areas, habitat health, and the effectiveness of conservation programs. The index is built around four main pillars: Land Management, Threats to Biodiversity, Capacity and Governance, and Future Trends. These pillars are measured using 25 performance indicators, and the 2024 rankings reflect the combined scores of these pillars, offering a comprehensive and quantitative overview of each country's efforts in biodiversity conservation and sustainability. Morocco ranked 136th with a score of 51.84 in land management, 150th with 55 points in threats to biodiversity, 129th with 58 points in capacity and governance, and 135th with 35 points in future trends. According to the report, Morocco's forest ecosystems— including Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrublands—cover large parts of the country. These forests are home to diverse plant species such as cork oak, olive, and carob trees, and provide habitats for many mammals, including the Barbary gazelle, wild boar, and the now-extinct Barbary leopard. Ifrane National Park, located in the Middle Atlas, is renowned for its cedar forests and is a critical habitat for the endangered Barbary macaque. Morocco's forests host numerous endemic and threatened species, underscoring the importance of conservation efforts. Notable endemic species include the Moroccan locust and the Atlas cedar. The country is also home to critically endangered species such as the Barbary leopard, the northern bald ibis, and the Mediterranean monk seal. Globally, Luxembourg ranked first, followed by Estonia, Denmark, Finland, the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, Australia, Switzerland (eighth), Romania (ninth), and Costa Rica (tenth).
