Morocco has secured more than €580 million from bilateral and multilateral development partners to support its long-term forestry transformation programme. According to the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF), approximately €175 million, representing 40 per cent of the committed funding, has already been disbursed to advance the country’s national forest strategy.
The latest funding update was presented during a high-level donor meeting held in Rabat. The meeting was chaired by ANEF Director General Abderrahim Houmy and attended by representatives from the French Development Agency (AFD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the African Development Bank and the European Investment Bank.
The funding supports the Forests of Morocco 2020-2030 strategy, launched by King Mohammed VI in February 2020. The programme covers approximately 9 million hectares of forest land, including 5.8 million hectares of natural forests. It has become one of Morocco’s most significant environmental and forestry initiatives.
The strategy focuses on creating resilient and productive forest ecosystems. It also aims to generate long-term economic value while improving environmental protection.
Investment is being directed towards ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation, watershed protection and sustainable forest value chains. Rural livelihoods also form a major part of the programme. Seventeen individual programmes have been developed to achieve these objectives.
Before the national strategy was introduced, Morocco experienced an annual loss of around 17,000 hectares of forest due to degradation. Unsustainable firewood harvesting exceeded the forests’ natural regeneration capacity. Climate change and excessive grazing further increased pressure on forest ecosystems.
To address these challenges, Morocco has introduced a large-scale restoration programme targeting 600,000 hectares of degraded forest by 2030. Restoration activities are primarily focused on mountainous regions. Native tree species are being prioritised because of their stronger resilience to changing climatic conditions.
The programme has attracted positive feedback from international development partners.
FAO’s Morocco Representative, Alexandre Anh Tai Huynh, praised the country’s integrated approach towards biodiversity conservation, forest protection and land restoration. He noted that these efforts have been combined into a broader national model led by ANEF.
Similarly, Catherine Bonnaud, Director of the French Development Agency in Morocco, described the partnership as highly significant. She highlighted the strategy’s emphasis on strengthening forest resilience while supporting climate adaptation measures.
Significant progress has already been recorded across several implementation areas.
Territorial coordination mechanisms now cover 147 communes, representing approximately 74 per cent of the programme’s target. Under the Ghabati Hayati initiative, 94 development and partnership agents have been recruited and trained against an overall target of 108.
Institutional development has also continued. Around 73 forest development organisations have been established. In addition, 54 collaborative development plans have been prepared. Approximately 74 per cent of territorial projects developed in consultation with local communities have now been validated.
Financial incentives remain central to community participation.
During 2025, compensation was provided across 530 protected forest perimeters, covering approximately 80,000 hectares. The initiative involved an investment of MAD 45 million for communities agreeing to temporary protective fencing measures.
Under the broader Ghabati Hayati programme, compensation has already been delivered across 237,289 hectares, representing 64.7 per cent of the programme’s target area of 366,846 hectares. Full compensation is expected to be completed before the end of 2026.
The cooperative forestry sector has also expanded considerably.
Currently, 310 forestry cooperatives operate under 273 agreements signed with ANEF. Together, they include approximately 19,400 members and generate annual revenues of around MAD 15 million.
More than 80 per cent of Morocco’s rosemary-producing areas are now managed through formal contractual arrangements. The cooperatives operate across several activities, including aromatic and medicinal plants, timber production, forest nurseries and aquaculture.
Technology is playing an increasingly important role throughout the programme.
Mechanised soil preparation techniques are being applied to improve restoration efficiency. Waterboxx planting systems are supporting seedling establishment in water-stressed environments. Drone technology is also being used for monitoring restoration activities across forest landscapes.
Forest law enforcement capacity is being strengthened simultaneously. Drones, body-worn cameras and advanced data analytics systems are being introduced to improve surveillance against illegal logging, timber trafficking and wildlife poaching.
Ecotourism development forms another important component of the strategy.
Projects are progressing across Morocco’s network of 10 national parks, including Ifrane, Toubkal, Souss-Massa and Al Hoceïma. These initiatives aim to balance environmental conservation with sustainable tourism opportunities.
International engagement in Morocco’s forestry sector continues to expand.
The latest funding announcement follows a four-day Finnish ministerial trade mission to Rabat in March, during which opportunities within Morocco’s sawmilling and bioeconomy industries were explored.
Looking ahead, ANEF intends to strengthen cooperation through South-South and triangular partnerships. These collaborations will support Morocco’s wider commitments on climate action, biodiversity conservation and combating desertification while reinforcing the long-term competitiveness of its forestry sector.
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