SCIENTIFIC WORKSHOP TO SUPPORT THE SUSTAINABLE OASIS INITIATIVE
An international scientific workshop was held on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, in Rabat, to develop a scientific argument in support of the Sustainable Oasis Initiative at COP28. The workshop was presided over by Mr. Mohammed Sadiki, the Minister of Agriculture, Marine Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, and attended by representatives from FAO, UNESCO, and national and international experts.
The workshop, co-organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, the National Agency for the Development of Oasis Zones and Argan Trees (ANDZOA), FAO, and UNESCO, aims to operationalize the Sustainable Oasis Initiative. This initiative aims to safeguard and protect oasis agroecosystems and promote sustainable economic development in oases.
The objective of the workshop is to obtain advisory opinions from high-level experts on the operationalization of the initiative, particularly in terms of integrating it into international trends in sustainable agroecosystem management and climate change adaptation. It seeks to develop a scientific argument to advocate for the Sustainable Oasis Initiative at COP28 and propose appropriate governance and cooperation mechanisms for its implementation.
During the opening remarks, Minister Sadiki emphasized the importance of oases as unique ecological systems and spaces with distinct natural, cultural, and urban heritage, housing specific agricultural products. He stressed the need for a comprehensive approach to the development of these areas and the importance of unified efforts to ensure their sustainable development, improve resilience to climate change, and continue to fulfill their multiple roles for humanity.
It is worth noting that Morocco places special importance on the development of oases within the framework of the Generation Green 2020-2030 strategy. The country has implemented projects, development programs, and structural measures to promote the development and sustainability of these vulnerable territories. This includes the planting of over 3 million date palm trees, the strengthening of hydroagricultural infrastructure, and the establishment of storage and packaging units for dates in various oases. The goal is to extend these plantations to 5 million trees and enhance traditional oases to withstand constant constraints and pressures.
The Sustainable Oasis Initiative was launched by Morocco in coordination and consultation with partners during the 2016 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP22) held in Marrakech. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the unique nature and vulnerability of oases, implement concerted actions to preserve oasis heritage worldwide, including biodiversity and human systems, and promote their economic potential in a sustainable development approach.
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