Rédaction Africa Links 24 with ALM
Published on 2024-04-16 16:18:35
The National Agency for Water and Forests of Morocco (ANEF) and the French Development Agency (AFD) signed a letter of intent on Monday in Rabat to contribute to the efforts of reconstruction and sustainable development of the Toubkal National Park area.
This letter of intent symbolizes the commitment of the two agencies to extend their collaboration, initiated since 2021 in support of the “Forests of Morocco 2020-2030” strategy through the “Ghabati Hayati” program and the “Conservation of Biodiversity of the Ifrane National Park” project, by extending their partnership to other areas, including the area of the Toubkal National Park which was affected by the Al Haouz earthquake, ANEF and AFD stated in a joint press release.
This new program, which is expected to be funded with a loan of 100 million euros and a grant of 2 million euros, will help promote local development by creating economic opportunities, while preserving forest ecosystems, the press release highlighted.
“This partnership with AFD is dynamic and has allowed us to innovate during the first Ghabati Hayati program. Now we look further ahead and will continue working together on the implementation of the Forests of Morocco 2020-2030 strategy and the reconstruction and sustainable development of the Toubkal National Park area,” said ANEF’s Director General Abderrahim Houmy, as quoted in the press release.
The approach taken by AFD and ANEF is based on a long-term vision that integrates the socio-economic and environmental challenges of the region, emphasized French Ambassador to Morocco Christophe Lecourtier, adding that by involving local communities in the development process, the two agencies aim to build a more resilient and prosperous future for the Toubkal region.
Through this operation affecting mountain territories, AFD and ANEF will implement new approaches focused on the development of ecotourism by integrating the knowledge and needs of local populations.
To address the challenges of reconstruction and sustainable development, the two agencies will work closely together to identify, design, and implement projects aimed at preserving and restoring forest ecosystems. AFD also commits to supporting ANEF’s capacity-building efforts by providing technical and financial assistance for the development of training programs and the exchange of best practices.
Finally, AFD and ANEF will exchange their knowledge and expertise in areas such as integrated water resources management, conservation and valorization of biodiversity, and adaptation to climate change.
Read the original article(French) on Aujourdhui.ma
