At a strategic meeting held at the Royal Police Institute in Kenitra, Abdellatif Hammouchi, Director General of Morocco’s National Security and Territorial Surveillance (DGSN), reinforced his agency’s commitment to strengthening law enforcement efforts against crimes targeting the country’s forest resources.
Speaking during a dedicated study session, Morocco’s top security official noted the need for police and partner institutions to adapt their methods to counter increasingly sophisticated environmental crimes.
The event, held under the theme “Protection of Forest Heritage and Wildlife: A Legal Responsibility and a National Duty”, brought together officials from law enforcement, the judiciary, and Morocco’s National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF).
Hammouchi noted the DGSN’s investment in scientific and technological tools to bolster criminal investigations, alongside targeted training programs to enhance the skills of law enforcement personnel.
He spoke about the importance of inter-institutional coordination in promoting environmental protection, in line with the national strategy “Forests of Morocco 2020–2030”, launched by HM King Mohammed VI.
The strategy aims to ensure sustainable forest management and reconcile conservation needs with resource development, while preserving the country’s natural capital.
Toufiq Azroual, ANEF’s Director of Human Capital and Logistics, said Moroccan forests face mounting threats from climate change, urban sprawl, and increasingly organized environmental crime.
He noted the agency is modernizing training and operational methods to enhance the effectiveness of the forest police.
The study day featured sessions on prevention, enforcement, and institutional cooperation in addressing environmental and wildlife-related offenses.
(MWN with MAP)
