Willingness of the Kingdom of Morocco to lay the first milestones of an institutional structure for the implementation of the objectives of the Sustainable Oasis Initiative launched at the initiative of the Kingdom on the sidelines of COP22 in 2016 in Marrakech
The Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, Mr. Mohammed Sadiki, chaired the Moroccan delegation participating in the Ministerial Conference of date producing and processing countries, organized on 26 and 27 February 2024 in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.
This year's ministerial conference includes two high-level ministerial meetings of agriculture ministers from date producing and processing countries; the first devoted to the monitoring and evaluation of the results of the integrated management project of the red palm weevil and the second relating to the preparation for the institutionalization of the Sustainable Oasis Initiative.
During his speech on this occasion, the Minister presented the Sustainable Oasis Initiative developed in coordination and consultation with all partners and presented by the Kingdom of Morocco in November 2016 on the sidelines of the Conference of the Parties on Climate “COP22 » held in Marrakech. Since its launch, this initiative has been the subject of numerous events organized at national and international level.
In his speech, the Minister underlined the importance of oases which constitute unique ecosystems which shelter specific agricultural products and spaces with a distinct natural, cultural and urban heritage. With the scarcity of natural resources and the acceleration of urbanization coupled with strong human pressure, oases are exposed to a real threat which could disrupt the balance of these ecosystems and have negative consequences for the continuity and sustainability of oases that could become in danger of disappearing.
He sounded the alarm about the threat weighing on oasis areas, taking into account the climate changes that the world is experiencing on the one hand, and the enormous pressures on natural resources on the other hand, which require mobilization comprehensive approach to dealing with these phenomena.
The Minister also noted that the Kingdom of Morocco attaches great importance to these fragile areas, as evidenced by the importance given by His Majesty the King, May God Assist him to these areas, through his direct supervision for the development strategies and the creation of specialized establishments which ensure their development and sustainability.
He stressed the need to prioritize the intensification of efforts to find more effective preventive measures and solutions, which will allow the adaptation of oases to the challenges and constraints that limit their sustainability. In this context, the Minister indicated that the Kingdom of Morocco organized the 1st edition of the International Congress of Oases and the Date Palm at the end of May 2023 in order to exchange ideas, expertise and experiences and the implementation implement the objectives of this initiative by ensuring:
The creation of an international coalition on the Sustainable Oasis Initiative presented by Morocco to the countries concerned by the problem of oases, to put in place the tools and means necessary to protect and ensure the sustainability of these areas;
The creation of a body to implement the objectives of the Sustainable Oasis Initiative;
Provide the financial resources necessary to implement this initiative.
Finally, the Minister called for the need to continue mobilization around the problem of adaptation of oasis systems to climate change and expressed the desire of the Kingdom of Morocco to lay the first milestones of an institutional structure which brings together all the countries concerned by oases for the implementation of the objectives of the Sustainable Oasis Initiative.
An interview with Mr. Abdel Wahab Zayed, Secretary General of the Throne, on the main humanitarian community of agriculture ministers of date-producing countries, on the creation of the Humanitarian Authority for Development and on oases of work. The Secretariat requests a cooperation award with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Forestry in the Kingdom of Good Agricultural and Agribusiness Regulation (April 26, 2024).
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