My friend: The Atlantic Park supports development

Mohamed Seddiqi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests, said that the creation of the Western Anti-Atlas Natural Park falls within the framework of “implementing the second main axis of the Moroccan forest strategy 2020-2030, which is the management and development of forest spaces according to their qualifications, especially the part related to the development of national parks and regions.” The first phase of these workshops will include the creation and classification of 10 protected areas at the national level, including the Western Anti-Atlas Natural Park, with an area of ​​111,130 hectares, which includes exceptional qualifications.”

The same government official highlighted, in an answer to a written question addressed to him by the parliamentary representative for the Chtouka Ait Baha district, Ahmed Boumkouk, that this axis aims to “rehabilitate, value and preserve natural resources and contribute to sustainable local development, by combining the requirements of preserving these resources with the requirements of Economic and social development, by adopting a participatory approach in which residents are the first partner in managing the development of these rich natural spaces according to their qualifications.”

The aforementioned park, which sparked widespread controversy in the provinces of Chtouka Ait Baha, Tiznit and Taroudant and was met with fears from residents, associations and elected officials in the groups concerned with its creation, aims, according to the Minister of Agriculture, to “preserve biodiversity and natural resources in the territory of the Souss-Massa region, and reflects the commitment of the National Agency for Water and Forests to protect Valuing the natural heritage and promoting eco-tourism as part of sustainable development without affecting real estate resources or changing the current economic activities of the local population and all stakeholders, and will enable the involvement of the local population in managing and valuing natural resources.”

Mohamed Seddiqi’s answer stated: “In order to dedicate the participatory approach adopted by the National Agency for Water and Forests, the file for creating this park was placed at the headquarters of the following territorial communities: Amelen, Tanalet, Sidi Amzal, Tighmi, Arbaa Ait Ahmed, Anzi, Oukens, Tanna Aday, Sidi Ahmed. Omoussa, Tizi Ntakoucht, Tarka Ntouchka, Sidi Abdallah Bouchouari, Idawknidif, Ait Issafen, Rkada, Ouyjane, Arbaa Rasmouka, as well as in the leaderships affiliated with the influence of these groups, so that the public can view it and record their observations.”

The ministerial official promised to hold communication meetings about “this important national workshop with the concerned territorial groups, the local population, and all those involved, with the aim of giving more clarifications and information about it, removing all confusion and refuting all the rumors that accompanied its launch, as well as studying the observations and proposals that will be made.”