Compared to the average of the past ten years, the area affected by forest fires in Morocco has decreased by 65%. Presenting its 2025 report on Tuesday in Rabat, the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) said that a budget of 150 million dirhams has been allocated for prevention and firefighting efforts in 2026. Source: ANEF ‹ › By breaking a prolonged cycle of drought, recent rainfall in Morocco has led to an unprecedented surge in plant biomass, significantly enriching forest cover. However, this vegetation remains highly flammable. In response, a budget of 150 million dirhams has been allocated to prevent and combat forest fires, in line with the 2026 action plan of the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF). During the presentation of its 2025 report in Rabat on Tuesday, the agency reported a 65% drop in fires compared to the average of the past ten years. Last year, 418 fires were recorded, affecting 1,728 hectares, 33% of which consisted of shrub and herbaceous vegetation. Pressure remained particularly high in the Tangier–Tetouan–Al Hoceima region, which accounted for 40% of fire outbreaks and 89% of the burned area nationwide. Notably, 94% of incidents were contained before exceeding 5 hectares. Mobilization of Authorities and Citizens Despite these results, ANEF pointed to «two major fires that occurred in August in the province of Chefchaouen», which burned «859 and 280 hectares respectively». The agency also highlighted «critical episodes», particularly in June and August, marked by heatwaves that fueled simultaneous large-scale fires. This «increasing sensitivity of forest ecosystems to climatic hazards» reflects a broader trend observed across the Mediterranean basin in 2025. In this context, Morocco managed to contain the impact of fires through strong coordination between the Ministry of the Interior, ANEF, local authorities, Civil Protection, the Royal Gendarmerie, the Royal Air Forces, the Royal Armed Forces, the Auxiliary Forces, as well as civil society and local residents. As summer approaches, the agency is stepping up prevention efforts, including «maintenance of firebreaks, creation of water points, opening and rehabilitation of forest tracks», alongside strengthening human and material resources. ANEF Director General Abderrahim Houmy stressed the importance of vigilance: «We remind that in the event of a forest fire, authorities must be alerted as quickly as possible (…) The safety of citizens must be guaranteed». The agency is also intensifying awareness campaigns, noting that most fires are of human origin. In 2025, nearly 35,000 people were reached through «100 urban and peri-urban forests, as well as 300 educational institutions». The fourth edition of Awareness Days will take place from May 21 to 24, 2026. An Innovative Technological Experience This progress is also driven by technological advances in risk anticipation, particularly through artificial intelligence. «Morocco has made a major leap in integrating AI», said Fouad Assali, noting that prediction accuracy has reached 72%, compared to 38–42% with conventional methods. This system allows authorities to anticipate nearly two-thirds of forest fires before they occur. «The Moroccan database continues to expand (…) helping refine predictive models», he added, with plans underway to extend the system nationwide. Beyond prediction, the model will help «better determine where to place firebreaks, water points and forest tracks», improving overall efficiency. According to Assali, "all these human, logistical and technological efforts" are helping reduce the pressure of forest fires, noting that Morocco maintains a relatively strong position in the Mediterranean basin.
