Isotopic Characteristics and Water Interaction of Ifni Lake and Spring of Tifnoute Valley (High Atlas Mountains, Morocco, North of Africa)

Geochemical and isotopic investigations were carried out to indicate the interaction process between Ifni Lake water and high valley of Tifnoute springs. A total of 18 water samples were collected and analyzed. The Ifni Lake constitutes a veritable water resource in the study area, and this water can be the origin of alimentation the springs located in the high valley the Tifnoute. This study aims to improve the interaction between Ifni Lake water and the springs of high valley of Tifnoute. It is mainly focused to identify the origin of groundwater recharge and mineralization. The environmental isotope (deuterium (δ2H) and oxygen-18 (δ18O)) measurements allowed understanding the hydro geochemical process, the origin of the mineralization of the water. Also the results identify the relationship between the waters of Ifni Lake and the spring's water of high valley of Tifnoute. The isotopic compositions reveal that the origin of Ifni Lake water is meteoric, and the water infiltrates directly in the groundwater without any evaporation

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

The value of carbon sequestration and storage in coastal habitats areas in North West of Morocco

Morocco, like the rest of the world, is experiencing a climate change that threatens a number of wetlands. Marine ecosystems contribute to the regulation of the Earth’s climate, but their degradation releases large quantities of greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. This paper aimed to map and model changes in carbon storage and sequestration for coastal habitats using the INVEST model, using the Sidi Moussa-Oualidia lagoon complex as a case study. To achieve this objective, several data were used, namely, land use and land cover maps between 2003 and 2020, as well as data on the amount of carbon stored in the three basins; biomass, sediment carbon (soil) and dead carbon (litter), and the annual rate of carbon accumulation in biomass and sediment. The results obtained in this work allowed us to compare the two former and current carbon stock and net sequestration scenarios and to evaluate the social cost of carbon in the study area. This study can facilitate the development of a coastal rehabilitation strategy to take advantage of the benefits of these wetlands and, at the same time, to conserve the ecosystem services provided by these environments, including the CBCS

Economic Benefit of Coastal ‘Blue Carbon’ Stocks in Moroccan Lagoon Ecosystem: A Case Study From Moulay Bousselham lagoon

Abstract Land degradation is a problem that increasingly affects large areas of territories and affects various ecosystem services provided by coastal wetlands. These marine ecosystems provide valuable benefits to the environment and to humans, including services such as coastal blue carbon sequestration (CBCS) the economic value of which is still poorly understood. This paper investigated land use/cover (LULC) changes in Moulay Bousselham lagoon (MBL) from 1971 to 2020 and their effects on CBCS variation. The transformation of LULC and their cumulative conversions in coastal wetlands were studied during the 1971-2010 and 2010-2020 periods based on LULC data. Then the InVEST model was used to quantify the carbon storage provided by coastal ecosystems in response to LULC changes. The results show that the overall area of strictly wetland habitats in the MBL has decreased by 8.83% since 1971. There were 94 types of LULC transformation over 1971-2020, with significant wetland losses marked by the conversion of wet lawn and juncus meadow to cropland. Using recent estimates of social cost of carbon (SCC) and CO 2 European Emission Allowances (EUA), the monetary value of CBCS service was calculated over the entire lagoon during the study period to reach gains between 371,053 and 3,803,295US$/y and losses between -10,127 and -103,806US$/y. If current trends of habitat loss continue, the capacity of coastal habitats to sequester and store CO 2 will be significantly reduced. The study shows that revenues from CBCS service can accelerate the implementation of wetland rehabilitation strategies that have a positive impact on climate regulation

Application of fuzzy analytical hierarchy process for assessment of desertification sensitive areas in North West of Morocco

An updated assessment of land sensitivity to desertification is essential for comprehensive planning and preparation of action plans. In this study, modified Mediterranean desertification and land use (MEDALUS) method by employing a fuzzy inference system in a GIS environment was used to identify environmentally sensitive areas (ESA) to desertification in the Drader basin in Morocco. Anthropogenic and Biophysical parameters (17 parameters) have been integrated and processed by geographic information systems obtaining climate, water, soil, vegetation and land management quality indexes. The weights for indicators and parameters involved in land desertification were calculated by using analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Then, a fuzzy inference system was employed to create a map for each indexes and ESA map for the study area. The results showed that, fragile and critical areas represent 58% and 2% respectively, while about 21% of the area belongs to the potential areas. The critical areas are primarily characterized by low degree of plant cover, low erosion resistance and low management quality. However, the results revealed that Integrating MCDM-GIS and fuzzy logic in MEDALUS has improved the ability to classify the sensitive areas to desertification at regional scale. The ESA maps have potential as decision tools to prepare and respond to ESAs and causes of land degradation, as such contributing to national climate action and disaster risk reduction sustainable development goals (goals 13 and 15, respectively)