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Environment

Guelmim-Oued Noun: A Masterplan for Water and Soil Conservation on the Horizon

Monday 03 June 2024 - 11:20

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Amid escalating water stress, the Moroccan government is ramping up efforts to fortify the resilience of its territories. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture, the development of a Regional Masterplan for Water and Soil Conservation and Rainwater Harvesting in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region signifies a pivotal step. On July 16th, the ministry will commission a study, valued at 6.5 million dirhams, to serve as the bedrock for this critical roadmap.

"This consultation is part of a national policy aimed at preserving soils, sustaining water resources, mobilizing rainwater to ensure sustainable agricultural activities for the affected populations, and cartographically delineating areas requiring protection," elucidated the services of Minister Mohamed Sadiki. "This national vision pivots on the establishment of a national plan and regional plans for water and soil conservation and rainwater harvesting in areas most imperiled by erosion and water scarcity."

The upcoming study will conduct a comprehensive diagnosis of the actual risks of soil degradation, evaluate the perspective of land managers, and pinpoint factors to consider in mitigating erosion and water scarcity issues, ultimately striving to enhance agricultural production. Furthermore, a focused mapping of intervention zones, predicated on the severity of degradation and implementation conditions, will be undertaken. The consultation will also identify techniques tailored to diverse agroecological units and scrutinize measures to facilitate the implementation, success, and sustainability of the intervention program.

The process will culminate in the formulation of a Water and Soil Conservation Development Program, drawing upon the findings of agro-pedological and topographical studies and regional agricultural maps. "Water erosion constitutes the primary threat to agricultural land degradation in Morocco," underscored the Ministry of Agriculture. "It causes agro-pedological damage and impacts upstream and downstream hydraulic infrastructure, affecting both irrigated areas and the 'Bour,' while compromising the sustainability of agricultural properties and rangelands in terms of hydro-pedology and site topography."

Indeed, a 2017 World Bank study estimated the cost of land degradation due to this phenomenon at 0.54% of the national GDP, despite the consistent efforts of public authorities in water and soil conservation. "In pursuit of bolstering these efforts, and acknowledging the significance attributed by the Green Generation Strategy to sustainable natural resource management, the ministry will implement an action plan for the conservation and development of vulnerable agricultural lands," recalled the ministry.

The action plan, rooted in regional masterplan studies for identifying vulnerable sites in need of water and soil conservation interventions and potential rainwater harvesting sites, recognizes that addressing agricultural land degradation cannot be divorced from tackling water scarcity and recurrent droughts in rainfed agriculture zones.

As Morocco contends with the ramifications of climate change, initiatives like the Guelmim-Oued Noun Regional Masterplan underscore the nation's steadfast commitment to safeguarding its natural resources and ensuring the enduring viability of its agricultural sector.