Climate change deepens challenges for Morocco’s Amazigh nomads

Tuesday 11 November 2025 - 13:20

By: Dakir Madiha

Climate change deepens challenges for Morocco’s Amazigh nomads

Morocco’s Ait Khabbash community, part of the traditionally nomadic Amazigh pastoralists in the Draa-Tafilalet region, faces mounting challenges from climate change, compounded by historical marginalization. A recent study by the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, authored by researchers Yasmine Zarhloule and Ella Williams, explores how environmental degradation and inequities intersect for these indigenous people.

Climate change amplifies long-standing inequities

While Morocco is internationally recognized for its renewable energy projects, such as the Noor solar plant, the study highlights how national climate policies often overlook vulnerable communities like the Ait Khabbash. Between 1970 and 2020, Morocco experienced a significant decrease in precipitation, with droughts becoming increasingly severe. Community members report that water sources, once accessible at shallow depths, now require digging over 120 meters into the ground.

From nomadism to adaptation

In response to these environmental pressures, the Ait Khabbash have transitioned from their nomadic lifestyle to settled communities in villages like Merzouga and Hassilabied or urban centers such as Marrakesh and Ouarzazate. Others have sought opportunities through international migration to Europe, though tightened border controls have made this option more difficult.

The community has also turned to desert tourism as a vital adaptation strategy. Since the 1970s, a grassroots tourism sector has emerged, offering desert treks, meals, and accommodations near the sand dunes. This industry has provided thousands of jobs, enabling families to remain connected to their ancestral lands. Women have also found opportunities in tourism, particularly through cooperatives producing traditional goods for camp visitors.

Persistent economic disparities

Despite its natural resources, including extensive mineral deposits and the Noor solar plant, the Draa-Tafilalet region remains economically marginalized, contributing less than 1% to Morocco’s GDP. The poverty rate in the region, at 7.7% in 2024, exceeds the national average of 6.8%. Many Ait Khabbash community members rely on self-reliance and community networks rather than engaging with state institutions.

Recommendations for inclusive adaptation

The study recommends integrating indigenous knowledge into climate policy and strengthening the resilience of the tourism sector. Traditional water management systems, like the khettara, are highlighted as vital for sustainable resource use and trust-building. Researchers argue for participatory decision-making to transform climate adaptation into a proactive and equitable process, ensuring marginalized communities are treated as partners rather than passive recipients of aid.