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- Preserving the ecosystem of the Al Hoceima National Park Marine Protected Area, Morocco
Preserving the ecosystem of the Al Hoceima National Park Marine Protected Area, Morocco
Morocco
last update:
3 weeks agoProblems
Al Hoceima National Park (AHNP), or Parc National d’Al Hoceima, is the only terrestrial and marine park in the Moroccan Mediterranean Region. Located within the Rif, a conifer and mixed-forest region that spans from north Morocco to northwestern Tunisia, the national park encompasses 480 square kilometers of steep mountains, sheer cliffs, coastlines, and marine habitats. In recent years, small-scale fishing operations – and the marine biome that supports it – have come under threat. Large-scale coastal fishing operations have begun to trawl in areas once frequented only by small, traditional fishing boats. These operations often rely on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices, such as bottom trawling in shallow areas with a depth of fewer than 80 meters, which devastate fish habitats and breeding areas. Without a safe place for juvenile fish populations to reproduce, demersal stocks – the species that live close to the seabed – have declined. Other IUU fishing techniques, such as drift nets, are widely used. Intended to catch large pelagic species that live close to the sea surface, such as swordfish and bluefin tuna, drift nets can also irreversibly destroy both commercial and non-commercial marine resources and often result in the unintended capture of protected marine mammals.
Solutions
Preserving the ecosystem of the Al Hoceima National Park Marine Protected Area
Author: Equator Initiative
The Association de Gestion Intégrée des Ressources (AGIR) is a beacon of hope for AHNP in environmental conservation and sustainable development. AGIR’s strategy protects marine resources by strengthening the artisanal fishing community. Using participatory planning, the fishing community devises action plans that allow them to sustainably co-manage fishing resources in partnership with local authorities. AGIR brings together various stakeholders: fisherfolk, artisans, fisherfolk’s spouses, elected representatives, local and national government agencies, and national and international universities. The organization’s bottom-up multi-stakeholder approach prioritizes dialogue, compromise, and trust between diverse participants. AGIR’s participatory approach involves the following steps: identifying key environmental issues, raising the local population’s awareness, crafting potential solutions through community consultation, organizing and programming actions, periodical evaluation of actions, and finally, gradual takeover of development activities by local community members. In total, AGIR collaborates with 12 fishing cooperatives, including cooperatives run by the spouses of fisherfolk. Within the AGIR organization itself, many women hold leadership positions. AGIR’s initiatives have elevated the standard of living for Al Hoceima’s fishing families in three key ways: Ensuring the long-term sustainability of fishing resources, increasing overall revenue, and diversifying income-generating activities. As a result of AGIR’s interventions, a 30 percent reduction in poverty has been observed for approximately 1,200 artisanal fisherfolk. Since the initiative's launch, a total of €653,220 (US$720,000) of revenue has been earned by local fishers. Among some changes that have contributed to the increased incomes of fisherfolk are the transition to sustainable fishing gear and pieces of training that reorient fishers to catch quality fish species with higher added value. A key strategy has been to offer revolving funds, or interest-free loans, to the fishing cooperatives throughout AHNP. Several local fishing cooperatives have used these funds to expand their export capacity. As a complementary strategy, small-scale projects have been used to increase the capacity of member cooperatives dramatically. For example, Project PARGO (2008 – 2010) resulted in the installation of four cold rooms and purchasing a refrigerated commercial van to transport fish, electronic scales, and plastic crates for fishing landing points. Before this intervention, most fish caught in the region were sold to local markets. This small advancement in infrastructure has transformed the options available for the fishing cooperative, as artisanal fishers can now access export markets, which offer better prices and more diverse economic opportunities. AGIR’s programming has increased communities' economic and ecological resilience within AHNP. The contributions to ecosystem health and the diversification of income-generating activities will help support these communities in the coming years as climate change increasingly impacts local ecosystems and fisheries.
Source: https://www.equatorinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/AGIR-Morocco.pdf
Gallery
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Timelines
2020
AGIR’s integrated approach to resource management became more relevant than ever. As the world grappled with the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss, AGIR provided a blueprint for sustainable development and conservation. Their work in protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting sustainable practices is a testament to their commitment to a better future.
2014
In 2014, the Association de Gestion Intégrée des Ressources (AGIR) was honored with the prestigious Equator Prize12. The Equator Prize is awarded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and recognizes outstanding community efforts to reduce poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The event honored twenty-six leaders of local and Indigenous communities worldwide, whose work to protect environmental resources and sustainably manage natural ecosystems inspires all.
2013
AGIR diversified its services, offering expertise in forestry, recreational tourism, environment, non-timber forest products, forest biomass, geomatics, and urban forestry. It catered to the regional context and the needs of various clients, including groupings, MRCs, municipalities, private companies, and other organizations.
2008
AGIR was officially established. It was set up by the Regroupement des corporations locales de développement en milieu forestier de la MRC de Maria-Chapdelaine to meet its technical and professional support needs. This year marked the formalization of AGIR’s mission and objectives.
1989
The journey of AGIR started with the active involvement of its future president in various NGOs. This year began a long-term commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development.