Morocco leads global efforts to protect oases
Morocco's commitment to sustainable agriculture was highlighted at the recent Ministerial Conference of Date Producing and Processing Countries held in Abu Dhabi.
The Moroccan delegation, led by Minister of Agriculture Mohammed Sadiki, led sessions on the implementation of the Sustainable Oasis Initiative, an innovative project driven by the Kingdom during COP22 in Marrakech in 2016, Morocco World News reports.
This year's ministerial conference in the UAE includes two high-level ministerial meetings of agriculture ministers from date producing and processing countries.
The first meeting focuses on monitoring and evaluating the results of the integrated management project for the red palm weevil, while the second is related to the government's effort for the Sustainable Oasis Initiative.
During his intervention, the Moroccan minister presented the Sustainable Oasis Initiative, developed in coordination and consultation with all partners and presented by the Kingdom in November 2016, on the margins of the COP22 held in Marrakech. Since its launch, this initiative has been the focus of numerous events organised at national and international level.
Sadiki highlighted in his speech the importance of oases, as they constitute unique ecosystems that are home to specific agricultural products and spaces with distinct natural, cultural and urban heritage.
Due to the scarcity of natural resources and the acceleration of urbanisation coupled with strong human pressure, oases are under real threat. As the minister explained, the constant alteration of the balance of these ecosystems has negative consequences for their continuity and sustainability, and may even endanger them.
Among the threats facing the oases, Sadiki highlighted the global climate crisis, as well as the increasing pressures on natural resources.
In this regard, Sadiki recalled that Morocco attaches great importance to these endangered areas. The Kingdom has worked to develop strategies and establish specialised institutions to ensure their development and sustainability.
He also stressed the need to prioritise efforts to find preventive measures and more effective solutions to enable the oases to adapt to the challenges related to their sustainability.
With this goal in mind, Morocco organised the 1st edition of the International Oasis and Date Palm Congress at the end of May 2023, a meeting that served to exchange ideas, knowledge, experiences and implement the objectives of the initiative.
In his speech, the Moroccan minister called for more initiatives and efforts related to the adaptation of oasis systems to climate change, also expressing Morocco's willingness to lay the foundations of an institutional structure that brings together all countries interested in oases to implement the objectives of the Sustainable Oasis Initiative.