Morocco highlights its leadership in global environmental governance at Hangzhou congress
Morocco reaffirmed its central role in global environmental governance during the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, held from September 22 to 26, 2025, in Hangzhou, China. The event gathered more than 4,000 participants from 150 countries, including ministers, diplomats, scientists, and civil society representatives.
The Moroccan presidency of the International Coordinating Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program (ICC-MAB), assumed since 2024 by the National Agency for the Development of Oasis and Argan Zones (ANDZOA), illustrates the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainable development. Guided by HM King Mohammed VI, Morocco continues to promote models that combine biodiversity conservation, local development, and climate resilience.
Latifa Yaakoubi, Director General of ANDZOA, took part as a key speaker. She emphasized the urgency of addressing the “triple planetary crisis”—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution—and highlighted the role of biosphere reserves as living laboratories for sustainable solutions. Morocco’s participation also underscores its responsibility in preserving two UNESCO-recognized ecosystems: the Argan Biosphere Reserve and the Southern Moroccan Oases.
The highlight of the congress was the adoption of the Hangzhou Action Plan, a roadmap aligning the global biosphere reserve network with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN’s 2030 Agenda.
By hosting high-level meetings on the sidelines of the congress, the Moroccan delegation also worked to share national expertise and strengthen South-South cooperation, a cornerstone of its foreign policy.
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