Background and challenges

Morocco's advanced regionalization process is a strategic lever for sustainable, equitable and participatory territorial development, particularly in areas with high ecological potential but high vulnerability, such as oases, mountainous areas, rangelands and maritime areas.

In this context, the FAO is helping to build the capacities of national and local players, in particular local authorities, to preserve these fragile ecosystems, make the most of their resources, and promote integrated, resilient territorial management models adapted to local contexts.

Objectives

• Strengthen local governance capacities to support the implementation of advanced regionalization.
• Support the sustainable management of fragile territories, including oases, mountains, rangelands and coastlines.
• Promote the economic and ecological attractiveness of these regions for the benefit of local populations.
• Support integrated territorial planning, including climate, environmental and social issues.
• Enhance agricultural, cultural and ecological heritage as part of a sustainable development approach.

Focus areas

• Support for local authorities and regional agencies in implementing inclusive and participative territorial approaches.
• Capacity-building for planning, development and sustainable management of mountain, oasis, rangeland and coastal areas.
• Promotion of territorial diagnostic tools and formulation of integrated management plans for fragile areas.
• Consolidation of agroecological programs in oasis and argan zones, in partnership with ANDZOA.
• Development of participatory co-management models for palm groves, watersheds and argan forests.
• Support for the implementation of a national SIPAM program to promote recognized heritage farming systems (Imilchil, Aït Mansour, Ksour de Figuig).
• Support for blue economy planning, to better manage interactions between agriculture, the coastal environment and marine ecosystems.