Rabat – Morocco’s government announced on Friday a MAD 290 million ($28.3 million) plan to tackle and mitigate the impact of recent fires on agricultural activity and forests.
A statement from the government office said the measure comes at royal instructions in response to recent wildfires that damaged thousands of hectares of lands in several regions.
A group of ministers signed the agreement, including Minister of Economy Nadia Fettah Alaoui and Minister of Agriculture Mohamed Sadiki.
The agreement includes measures that seek to provide support to local people, whose homes and livelihoods were affected by the recent wildfires.
The measures will also cover the launch of reforestation operations covering over 9 million hectares of lands and to restore the affected fruit trees.
The measures also seek to strengthen means available to prevent and fight potential fires, as well as mitigating the impact on livestock farmers and beekeepers in the affected areas.
Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch attended the signing ceremony, reaffirming the mobilization of all concerned parties to provide support for the affected population.
Akhannouch called on government stakeholders to ensure the immediate implementation of the announced emergency measures to mitigate the impact of the fires on agriculture activities and forests.
The wildfires have been caused by many factors, including drought, gusts of wind, and the recent heat waves affecting several regions, including Taza, Tetouan, Larache, and Ouezzane.
Although heatwaves and drought remain one of the primary causes of the wildfires, human error is believed to have contributed largely to the tragic incidents.
Environmental expert Said Chaki has recently cited reckless human behavior as a cause. The expert suggested that natural causes are responsible for less than 5% of the total fires, while human error is believed to have provoked the majority of fires.
