Rabat — Morocco’s oasis ecosystems face severe threats from climate change, requiring urgent scientific intervention to ensure their survival, according to a National Agency for the Development of Oasis and Argan Zones (ANDZOA) official.
Bounhar El Habib, ANDZOA’s provincial director in the eastern Moroccan town of Figuig, spoke to Morocco World News (MWN) during the second International Congress on Oases and Date Palm (CIO) held May 22-23 in Ouarzazate.
The event brought together researchers from Morocco, Africa, the Arab world, and Europe to address mounting challenges facing these fragile desert environments.
El Habib said the congress sought “to preserve, develop, sustain, and ensure the longevity of our oases — which are in a vulnerable situation,” adding that “it is very important to encourage and bring together scientists to identify and address problems emerging from the field.”
Research focus on three key areas
Speaking of the congress’ contribution to the development and preservation of oases against climate change, El Habib said it organized its work around three critical themes.
Researchers examined the physical environment of oases, plant biology, and socioeconomic factors affecting territorial development.
The Ministry of Agriculture departments, ANDZOA, the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), and other partners collaborated to organize the event. ANDZOA presided over the organizing committee and handled logistics.
“This year, the event is organized by departments of the Ministry of Agriculture, ANDZOA, INRA, and other partners committed to ensuring the success of the congress,” El Habib explained.
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Climate pressures mount
El Habib, who oversees Figuig province, one of Morocco’s largest by area, which houses renowned oases including Figuig, Bouanane, Ain Chair, and Ain Chouater, shared that these areas produce unique date varieties like the endemic “Aziza of Figuig.”
The official described how climate change threatens these ecosystems through “recurring years of drought, water shortages, disease, fires, and severe flooding that threaten and damage these oases.”
ANDZOA presided over the congress organizing committee alongside the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), and other partners.
Researchers focused on three key areas: the physical environment of oases, plant biology, and socioeconomic development.
Regional cooperation essential
Most Moroccan oases sit near the Algerian border, creating opportunities for cross-border collaboration, El Habib noted, pointing out that the congress provided a platform for regional dialogue.
“Most of the oases are situated near the border with our Algerian neighbors. So, this is an opportunity to meet, discuss major challenges, and draw on scientific research to find pathways that will improve conditions,” he said.
El Habib stressed that these oases “act as barriers against desertification and are located along the border of the Sahara,” making their preservation crucial for Morocco’s environmental security.
The congress aimed to support both traditional oases and expansion efforts while finding practical solutions to ensure the sustainability of these vital ecosystems.
