2023-09-20 10:53:29
Encounter
As a prelude to Cop 28 scheduled for November in the Emirates, a scientific workshop to support the Sustainable Oases Initiative has just opened Tuesday near Rabat. An event which continues until Wednesday September 20. All while having a thought for the victims of the earthquake in Al Haouz and regions.
“This scientific workshop which brings together many countries that are home to oasis ecosystems aims to debate the Sustainable Oasis initiative which was launched by Morocco in 2016 during Cop 22.” These are the words of the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mohammed Sadiki, on the sidelines of this meeting which, according to him, has different aims.
Develop a scientific platform
The objective of this workshop being, according to Mr. Sadiki, “to develop a scientific platform to be able to carry out this initiative for collaborative actions between the countries which shelter these oasis ecosystems and to discuss, during the next ministerial meeting which will be organized in Erfoud on the sidelines of the Date Fair, the approach to collectively support this initiative by all countries and reflect on a governance framework and then have it adopted during Cop 28 in the Emirates next November.
The ultimate objective being, for him, to “find a foundation and a framework to be able to generate international support on the technical and scientific levels but also in terms of financial support for programs and projects for the preservation of these oases through their development of the entire ecosystem where human development constitutes the backbone and the center of all actions to respect the balance of these oases and preserve them once morest climate change to which they are increasingly exposed.
Asked regarding a diagnosis of oases in times of rainwater shortage, the minister told ALM: “The existence of oases and their development depend enormously on water resources. Obviously with climate change, they are experiencing violent drought, and therefore water scarcity. Consequently, the efforts that are made today in all the programs that we carry out primarily concern the saving of water, its preservation through techniques which make it possible to reduce water losses and waste, raising awareness obviously the populations who live in the oases but also the choice of cultivation species with the date palm which make it possible to preserve this resource and make the best use of it.
The expected recommendations
Also present, the FAO representative in Morocco, Jean Senahoun, reveals: “This scientific workshop is being held at a crucial moment in the implementation of the Sustainable Oases initiative. It comes just following the 2003 meeting in Ouarzazate and before the ministerial conference planned in Errachidia. “These two events show the very laudable efforts of Morocco to bring together different actors around this initiative,” says the speaker, who recalls the contribution of his organization to the oases.
In his opinion, it is really “important to pay particular attention to these environments, to make recommendations, to generate ideas to preserve these environments and ensure sustainable development”. Mr. Senahoun, who also draws attention to climate change, also speaks regarding the recommendations that might emerge from this meeting. “These are recommendations which will, for example, refer to the impact of climate change. What needs to be done to limit this impact and ensure sustainable development of these environments,” he says.
The threats that await the oases
For his part, the UNESCO representative for the Maghreb, Eric Falt, in turn approaches the subject of water from a benevolent angle. “Life is organized around water. The oasis is undoubtedly the most perfect illustration,” he expresses himself in a somewhat literary and poetic style. All while highlighting threats to this ecosystem “facing major challenges”. “Oasis systems are facing threats that are indeed increasingly severe such as desertification and overexploitation of water resources, the consequences of climate change, but also the loss of biodiversity and unplanned urbanization, practices sometimes unsustainable agricultural production, conflicts and demographic pressure,” he believes. For him, “all stakeholders are urgently called upon to take practical measures to mitigate these threats and promote the sustainability of oasis systems”.
Vision
Morocco attaches particular importance to the development of oases as part of the Generation Green 2020-2030 strategy, through the implementation of projects, development programs and structural measures for the development and sustainability of these vulnerable territories. In this context, the date palm sector which covers an area of more than 60,000 hectares has seen the planting of more than 3 million plants, the strengthening of hydro-agricultural infrastructure and the creation of several date storage and packaging units at the level from different oases. These plantations will be extended by 5 million plants, in addition to the development of traditional oases so that they resist constant constraints and pressures. As a reminder, this international meeting co-organized by the ministry through the National Agency for the Development of Oasis Zones and the Argan Tree, the FAO and UNESCO, is part of the operationalization of the Sustainable Oases initiative.
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