The Oued Ksob wetland in Essaouira / Ph. ANEF ‹ › The National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF), in collaboration with the province, organized an awareness day this Monday, February 2, in Essaouira to commemorate World Wetlands Day. This year's theme, «Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage», provided a platform for discussions on the sustainable management of these vital areas. Essaouira was deliberately chosen as the venue due to its status as a «symbolic territory», renowned for its «rich coastal and marine wetlands, islets, dunes, and forest ecosystems, particularly the argan forest», as stated by ANEF. This region exemplifies «the interdependence between natural and cultural heritage». Abderrahim Houmy, Director General of ANEF, highlighted in his speech that these zones function as «true natural regulators», essential for «water storage, aquifer recharge, flood mitigation, and as critical habitats for numerous species». This celebration aligns with national commitments to «biodiversity conservation, the implementation of the Ramsar Convention, and the directives of the Morocco Forest Strategy 2020-2030», focusing on «the protection of natural ecosystems, climate resilience, and the involvement of local communities in public policy». Furthermore, the official underscored that wetlands serve as «major indicators of the hydrological state of territories», especially in light of seven consecutive years of severe drought. Although recent rainfall has temporarily boosted water supplies, ANEF warns that this «temporary improvement» should not distract from «the reality of a structural water stress». The agency calls for a sustainable reinforcement of «efforts to preserve this vital resource and to adapt our development model», leveraging the progress made under the Morocco Forest Strategy 2020-2030.
