A Moroccan delegation led by the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) visited Andalusia in late November to enhance cooperation in biodiversity conservation. With support from the IUCN's Mediterranean Cooperation Center, the mission facilitated the exchange of expertise on captive breeding, reintroducing endangered species, and managing protected areas. Discussions between Moroccan and Spanish experts emphasized the preservation of key species such as the bald ibis, the Andalusian buttonquail, and marine turtles. In Jerez, the delegation examined Spain's efforts to reintroduce the critically endangered bald ibis, with plans to implement a similar project in Ifrane National Park. Other conservation programs, including those for the dama gazelle, the Andalusian bullfinch, and the African serval, which has vanished from Morocco, were also explored. The delegation visited specialized centers like the Doñana Biological Station and the Algeciras Marine Center, focusing on managing the shared Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean. «Cross-border collaboration is essential to protect our shared ecosystems», stated Zouhair Amhaouch, head of the national parks department at ANEF. Maher Mahjoub, director of the IUCN for the Mediterranean, highlighted that such cooperation «bolsters efforts for sustainable development and the protection of the most threatened species».
