In the framework of the Mediterranean Forest Week of Avignon, the International Association for Mediterranean Forests (AIFM) and Plan Bleu,  organised three sessions on "Forests, societies and territories".  The objective of these sessions was to promote  a territorial and intersectorial approach for forest management and initiatives aimed at  improving forest governance. They began with presentations of territorial experience  of the participatory management of Mediterranean wooded ecosystems such as the Bouhachem Nature Park in Morocco

ALAMI N.

International audienceIn the framework of the Mediterranean Forest Week of Avignon, the International Association for Mediterranean Forests (AIFM) and Plan Bleu, organised three sessions on "Forests, societies and territories". The objective of these sessions was to promote a territorial and intersectorial approach for forest management and initiatives aimed at improving forest governance. They began with presentations of territorial experience of the participatory management of Mediterranean wooded ecosystems such as the Bouhachem Nature Park in Morocco

Alami, N.

Hal-Diderot

Creating the Bouhachem Nature Park with a participatory approach (Morocco) -

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437
Creating the Bouhachem Nature
Park with a participatory
approach (Morocco)
by Nisrin ALAMI
The Tangiers-Tetouan Regional Government Council (TTRC) has set
up an initiative for local sustainable development in the rural area of
Jbel Bouhachem (Rif area of Northern Morocco), chosen on account of
its fragility and rich natural and cultural heritage. This undertaking,
unprecedented and experimental in Morocco, took its inspiration from
the procedure defined in France for setting up regional nature parks.
From its very beginnings, the project for the Bouhachem Nature Park
(PBNP) has benefited from the methodological back-up of the Lubéron
Regional Nature Park in S.-E. France, within the framework agree-
ment for cooperation between the TTRC, the Province-Alpes-Côte
d’Azur (France) Regional Government Council and the France-
Volontaires Association.
In 2001, the TTRC, whose effective scope includes land use and
development, environmental protection and socio-economic develop-
ment, decided to foster a new mode of sustainable management for nat-
ural resources and sustainable development which was to involve the
whole range of local stakeholders and residents. The upshot has been
the experimental project of the Bouhachem Nature Park.
The PBNP, located in Northern Morocco in the Rif region, is backed
by the TTRC, 6 rural municipal councils (Derdara, Tanaqoub, Laghdir,
Beni Leit, Al Oued and Tazrout) and 3 Provincial Assemblies
(Chefchaouen, Tetouan, Larache). The zone under study extends over
105,000 ha., of which half is forested, and has 48,000 inhabitants
(there are 159 tribal or douar areas).
The Jbel Bouhachem Mountain comprises an historical, cultural,
religious and natural heritage of premier importance but is under
threat from increasing deforestation due largely to wildfire and clear-
ing. The site was classified as a Priority 1 Site of Biological and
Ecological Interest (SBEI) in 1995. Encompassing 8,000 ha., this SBEI,
shaped like a half-circle, constitutes the heart of the PBNP. The Park
territory contains a dozen natural habitats of very great heritage
value, including zeen, Tauzia, and cork oak stands, natural forests of
In the framework of the
Mediterranean Forest Week
of Avignon, the International
Association for Mediterranean
Forests (AIFM) and Plan Bleu,
organised three sessions
on “Forests, societies and
territories”. The objective of these
sessions was to promote
a territorial and intersectorial
approach for forest management
and initiatives aimed at
improving forest governance.
They began with presentations of
territorial experience
of the participatory management
of Mediterranean wooded
ecosystems such as the
Bouhachem Nature Park
in Morocco.
Mediterranean Forest Week of Avignon
forêt méditerranéenne t. XXXII, n° 4, décembre 2011
1 - Jointly with FAO/Silva Mediterranea,
the Mediterranean Model Forest Network (MMFN),
the association of Mediterranean forest owners
(ARCMED) and COFOR International.
438
Mediterranean Forest Week of Avignon
North African maritime pine and cedars and
oueds with Portuguese laurel.
The different stages of the
project
Stage 1: Feasibility study (2001-2002)
– Delimiting the land area for the
Bouhachem Nature Park project (geographi-
cal identity and coherence);
– Identifying the priority lines of sustain-
able development;
– Mobilisation of the different parties
around the project.
Stage 2: Drafting with local concerta-
tion the Framework Charter for the
defined area and identification of
micro-projects illustrating the Park’s
undertaking (2003-4)
– Setting up the scientific and association
councils;
– Defining, with all those effectively
involved in the defined area, the orientation
and objectives of the Bouhachem Nature
Park for the coming 20 years;
– Drafting the Articles of Association and
defining how the management body respon-
sible for the future park will function.
Stage 3: Setting up the management
structure and carrying out the proto-
type micro-projects (2004-present)
– Voluntary membership of local and
regional government authorities (rural
municipal councils, provincial assemblies,
the TTRC);
– Municipalities grouped into districts for
the inception and management of the PBNP;
– Carrying out, in accordance with the
Charter, of 9 micro-projects for the improve-
ment of basic infrastructure and 9 others as
technical back-up for local associations
developing initiatives in rural and cultural
tourism, raising awareness and education in
environmental matters etc;
– Building and equipping the Centre for
the future Park and an ecomuseum (Jbala).
Perspectives for the project
and difficulties
After the establishment of the district
groupings of municipalities, those involved
in the PBNP must, in accordance with the
Charter, carry out the following actions:
– Adopt the annual operating and invest-
ment budget and set up the projects sched-
uled by the project’s action plan and pro-
gramme.
– Appoint a Park director and technical
staff.
– Reflect seriously on the role and place of
nature parks in Morocco.
The PBNP is gradually and patiently mak-
ing headway. Even so, some aspects are hin-
dering progress. Firstly, the legal vacuum
surrounding nature parks is in the process of
being filled with the promulgation of the new
Act 22-07 on Protected Areas (16 August
2010) which defines “nature parks” (it will be
possible for local and regional government
authorities to manage them). Also, the con-
cept of the park has still not been fully
embraced by local stakeholders and others
involved: these people want tangible results
in the short term whereas the whole under-
taking has a long-term perspective. Lastly,
at the moment the PBNP lacks a structure
for bringing drive and coordination to the
local people involved and which will ensure
the project’s vital continuity.
N.A.
Nisrin ALAMI
Conseil régional
Tanger-Tétouan
Morocco
Email:
nisrin_parc@yahoo.fr
The project’s purposes as fixed by its Charter:
1. Protection: of natural and cultural heritage, foster management of habitats
and natural resources in keeping with sustainable development, and fight pollu-
tion.
2. Land use: contribute to sustainable land use and improvement throughout the
defined territory, side by side with the partners involved.
3. Development: contribute to economic, social and cultural development as
well as to the quality of life throughout the defined territory.
4. Information: ensure the welcome of the public, provide information and edu-
cation and promote the participatory approach of the inhabitants.
5. Experimentation: encourage experimental, repeatable action in the fields
referred to above, and contribute to international programmes for research and
cooperation.
forêt méditerranéenne t. XXXII, n° 4, décembre 2011


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