Moroccan Schools Launch Environmental Education Initiatives Ahead of COP22

Taroudante – The Casablanca-Settat Regional Academy of Education and Training launched an environmental initiative to plant 50,000 trees in land surrounding the region’s schools by 2017.

Under the motto “A tree for each student,” the operation will allow students “to better understand the issue of climate change.”

According to the academy, this initiative, launched in partnership with the High Commissioner for Water and Forests and the Fight Against Desertification, will engage the region’s students and teach them to care for the environment.

“Each student will take care of the tree he plants and follow its growing throughout his school career,” the academy said in a statement.

“[The project] aims at enhancing awareness for the need to protect forests and biodiversity and develop eco-friendly gestures.”

This environmental initiative comes as Morocco prepares to host the 22nd annual International Conference of the United Nations on Climate Change (COP22) in November.

Schools throughout the kingdom have begun launching similar projects to teach students “green” practices.

Assaki Middle school in the remote rural area of Taroudant, in the Souss Massa, Agadir region, adorned its schoolyard with artistic decorations made from used car tires.

In partnership with the Aoulouz branch of Chabiba Almadrassiya, the administrative and educational staff worked with students to create the used tire decorations and place them at the school’s entrance and around the schoolyard.

Thanks to this initiative, the students were introduced to the notion of recycling and protecting the environment.