Morocco’s experience in sustainable forest management presented to Finland’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Sari Essayah
Finland’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Sari Essayah, accompanied by the Director General of the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF), Abderrahim Houmy, carried out a field visit on Thursday to the Maâmora forest, the largest cork oak forest in Morocco, to gain firsthand insight into Morocco’s experience in sustainable forest resource management.
Organized on the sidelines of the International Day of Forests, the visit highlighted actions undertaken as part of recent forestry campaigns, particularly in the production of forest plants, ecosystem regeneration and reforestation.
This initiative forms part of efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchange expertise in sustainable forest management, in response to current environmental and climate challenges that require innovative solutions to preserve ecosystems.
The visit included several stops. The first took place at the Dar Salem nursery, where Ms. Essayah was briefed on the different species of forest plants, their life cycles, and the irrigation techniques used.
The second stop was at a plantation site located 9 kilometers from the Dar Salem nursery, where the Finnish minister received explanations on the main pillars of the national “Forests of Morocco 2020-2030” strategy in terms of reforestation. The strategy aims to plant 50,000 hectares per year, equivalent to nearly 40 million plants, as well as to densify degraded areas.
This stop was marked by the participation of the minister and Finland’s ambassador to Rabat, Marjaana Sall, in the planting of new saplings, a symbolic gesture aligned with the regeneration efforts in Maâmora.
In addition, several technical stops were scheduled to review key achievements and assess the progress of ongoing projects.
These stages highlighted efforts in regeneration, reforestation, improved plant production through modern techniques and integrated forest management projects.
On this occasion, Mr. Houmy stated that the visit aimed to showcase Morocco’s efforts in this field and to share the agency’s experience with the Finnish side.
“Although the climatic and geographical conditions between Finland and Morocco are different, there are several common points from which we benefit thanks to the expertise of this forest country,” he said.
For her part, Ms. Essayah expressed her admiration for the work carried out by ANEF, describing it as crucial for forest renewal.
She added that Finland is the most forested country in Europe, with 75% of its territory covered by forests, underlining the importance of such cooperation, particularly in agriculture, forest management and sustainable development.
Through this visit, both parties reaffirmed their willingness to elevate their cooperation in the forestry sector, promoting the sharing of successful experiences and encouraging innovation in support of sustainable development goals and the preservation of natural resources for future generations.
Editorial team/le7tv
