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Launch at COP22
To safeguard, protect and develop oases ecosystems, well known for their rich and unique biodiversity, landscape, cultural and civilizational background, the «Sustainable Oases Initiative (SOI)» is being launched by the government of Morocco during the COP22 holded in Marrakech from November 7 to 18th 2016. The aim is that oases, all over the world, can keep existing as a cradle of dryland civilizations and fulfil their multiple economic, social and environmental roles.
The Sustainable Oases Initiative aims at :
Better recognition of the oases ecosystems and their unique vulnerable nature,
Implementation of concrete actions to protect the oases heritage; mainly, their biodiversity and livelihood; Valorization of the economic potentialities of oases within a sustainable development vision and strategy.
An opportunity
The Sustainable Oases Initiative is an opportunity to take in the national, regional and international context which is marked by an increasing awareness of the challenges of sustainable development and climate change. This context includes :
The Statement of the United Nations conference on sustainable development RIO+20 (in June, 2012): “the future we want «in particular articles including food safety, nutrition and sustainable agriculture;
The Paris Agreement (COP21), in particular its article 7, where the parties officially recognize the need of protecting the most vulnerable ecosystems, approach issues of climate change by taking adapted actions that respect the specificities of every ecosystem and call up for a strong international cooperation in favour of the most vulnerable zones to climate change, such as oases.
Taking into account the issues of oases conservation and sustainable development by the international organizations such as the FAO, the UNEP, UICN and the UNESCO and development partners such as IFAD, GEF, FFEM , World Bank... etc.
The growing mobilization of national and international civil society organizations, for the protection and better use of natural, economic, social and cultural heritage, and the promotion of oases’ sustainable development.
Morocco, one of the “Sustainable Oases Initiative” holders, has made of the protection and development of oases one of its public policy priorities at both public institutions and civil society levels.Major actions in favour of oases include:
-The creation of the National Agency for Oases and Argan Tree Zones Development (ANDZOA) with an assignment of integrated and sustainable development of its working areas;
-The creation of Social and Economic Development Agency for Southern Provinces of Morocco;
-Integrated programs and sectorial projects dedicated to oases development as those realized within the framework of the Green Morocco Plan And Green Generation, particularly program agreements established between the Government and the interprofessional organizations for the integrated development of date palm value chain;
-The implementation of programs of partnership with international institutions such as the Oases Biosphere Reserve of Southern Morocco with the MAB relevant to UNESCO or the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) with the FAO;
The actions led by the organizations of the civil society in the various parts of the Moroccan oases zones in partnership with public institutions (ANDZOA, National Human Development Initiative (INDH), sectoral development programs ...), regional and international organizations or within the framework of their own programs.
SOI'S Promotion
