Rabat – The National Agency for the Development of Oasis and Argan Trees in Morocco, in collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), hosted a consultative meeting on Saturday, on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) on Climate Change in Dubai.
The meeting aimed to address climate change and promote sustainable development in the oasis regions.
The gathering included key stakeholders such as the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture’s Agricultural Development Agency, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, and the International Center for the Study of Dry Areas. Representatives from various non-governmental organizations also actively participated in the event.
The conference aimed to reinforce the governance of the “Sustainable Oasis Initiative,” which was launched during COP22 in Marrakech and has since garnered global attention and support.
The initiative focuses on three core pillars: recognition, conservation, and development of oasis regions.
Following a thorough review of the initiative’s launch declaration and subsequent efforts to promote its objectives, the participants issued several recommendations.
They emphasized the outcomes of a scientific workshop held in Rabat in September 2023, and highlighted the multifaceted approach of the Sustainable Oasis Initiative.
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A key recommendation from the conference was the establishment of an international alliance tasked with key responsibilities.
This includes overseeing oasis development for sustainable growth amid climate change impacts, promoting interdisciplinary research and knowledge exchange, and mobilizing funds for sustainable oasis research and development.
The alliance would also oversee the integration of curricula and specializations across relevant entities, and create an international body comprising government and non-governmental representatives, international organizations, and stakeholders to ensure the alliance’s daily functioning.
The participants underlined the significance of oasis regions as historical, cultural, and natural treasures capable of embodying sustainable development principles.
They urged the creation of a collaborative mechanism to manage and enhance the economic and social indicators of oasis regions, aligning with the ecological systems of oasesand argan tree groves.
