Each year in Morocco the desert is eating up more land. Official figures state some 22,000 hectares of arable land disappears under desert every year in Morocco.
The problem is not simply in the most arid areas, but almost the whole of Morocco is threatened by increasing desertification. Officials say that efforts to combat it are proving inadequate.
Abdeladim El Hafi, high commissioner for water and forests speaking ahead of Saturday's World Day to Combat Desertification said..."Between 90 and 93 percent of Morocco is affected by aridity and other forms of drought." He went on to blame climate change and overuse and misuse of land.
Attempts to deal with it include reforestation, dune stabilisation and measures against erosion, but "these measures are insufficient", he added, calling for action by everyone concerned, including the use of renewable energy sources.
Some 22,000 hectares (55,000 acres) of arable land disappears under the desert every year in Morocco, according to official figures. Agriculture accounts for up to 20 percent of gross domestic product, but this can drop to 13 percent, depending on the weather
Tags: Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
1 comment:
That is amazing.
I never would have guessed that much land is turned into desert every year.
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