Background and challenges

Faced with the growing risks associated with climate change, Morocco is placing environmental resilience at the heart of its priorities. Vulnerable regions - particularly those facing water scarcity, soil degradation, biodiversity loss and climate hazards - require urgent strengthening of institutional and local capacities.

FAO supports national efforts to promote participatory and sustainable governance of natural resources (water, soil, biodiversity) and to strengthen tools for adaptation to the effects of climate change in these fragile territories.

Priority objectives

• Strengthen the capacities of public and local stakeholders in vulnerable areas.
• Promote participatory governance of natural resources.
• Improve sustainable management of water resources, soil and biodiversity.
• Support the adoption of climate resilience approaches, including early warning systems.
• Promote better integration of the climate-agriculture-water-migration nexus in public policies.

Focus areas

Sustainable management of natural resources

• Deployment of best practices in water management: rapid auditing, water accounting, sustainable governance, low-impact technologies.
• Support for policy development on forest resources and development of innovative models for inland aquaculture.
• Support for soil conservation and the fight against soil degradation, including direct seeding and other agroecological techniques.
• Capacity-building for integrated pesticide and pest management, including the elimination of obsolete pesticides.

Strengthening climate resilience

• Setting up strategic monitoring systems for climate risks (drought, fire, forest health).
• Contribution to the development and monitoring of the National Adaptation Plan for Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security.
• Support for the integration of climate change into agricultural and migration policies.
• Consolidation of the implementation of the National Determined Contribution (NDC).
• Scientific and technical capacity building with research centers, universities and CSOs.
• Developing specific forest resources (aromatic and medicinal plants, etc.) with a view to local adaptation.