Towards a more effective and coordinated fight to protect forests

Saturday 11 April 2026 - 17:00

The Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) recently held a hearing session with the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) as part of the preparation of an opinion on combating environmental damage. The discussions focused on improving the overall effectiveness of the system, from detection and penalties to restoration of affected ecosystems.

During the meeting, ANEF presented an overview of forest-related offenses recorded across the country, along with ongoing reforms under the national strategy “Forests of Morocco 2020–2030.” This long-term plan aims to modernize forest monitoring tools, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and improve coordination between field teams and institutional partners.

Authorities highlighted the introduction of upgraded surveillance systems designed to better detect illegal activities such as deforestation, unauthorized logging, and land degradation. These efforts are part of a broader push to ensure more rapid intervention and stronger legal follow-up in sensitive ecological areas.

The discussions also underlined early positive results observed in certain regions where coordinated action between agencies has helped reduce environmental violations. Participants emphasized that cooperation between institutions is becoming a key factor in improving forest governance and ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources.

Overall, the CESE meeting stressed the need for a more integrated and efficient approach, combining prevention, enforcement, and restoration to better protect Morocco’s forest ecosystems.