Last updated: November 2021
In anticipation of the organisation of the 2016 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Marrakech, the Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah University (USMBA) of Fez has launched an operation to plant 1,000 trees of different species. This intervention was part of a series of scientific, cultural, artistic, sporting and environmental actions undertaken by the University for the Climate, with the cooperation of other partners. Students and faculty as well as NGO representatives were present and implemented the action which ultimately led to the creation of green areas within the campus and around the faculties and universities. Founded in 1975, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University is named for a 18th century Sultan of Morocco, the nation in which the university is based. The main campus is located in the northern city of Fez, a World Heritage Site and historically the last stop on the famous gold trading route from Timbuktu. (1)
https://lematin.ma/journal/2016/operation-de-plantation-d-arbres--pour-la-protection-de-l-environnement/256582.html
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Project objectives
The intervention set targets which were in accord with the 2016 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The purpose of the conference was to discuss and implement plans about combatting climate change and to demonstrate to the world that the implementation of the Paris Agreement is underway.
The targets of the project were as follows:
1. To improve the urban landscape and the outskirts of the city and to allow it to gradually regain greenery and cleanliness of the area.
2. To raise citizens' awareness of the issues and challenges of COP 22 through conferences and competitions.
3. To forge among students an eco-citizen commitment to the preservation and conservation of forest resources: Environmental education programs aim to make students and other citizens aware of the importance of the trees.
4. To expand knowledge sharing about the increasing extinction of species and the effects of climate change (1,2,3,4)
Implementation activities
In October 2016 the president of the USMBA, representatives of the urban municipality and the region, elected officials, academics and students took part in the official launch of this operation aimed at maintaining plant cover and enhancing the urban and peri-urban landscape. , as well as the creation of new wooded green spaces around cities. They were able to plant 1000 trees. Afterwards, they took part in sports, fun and sensory activities, which combined educational and scientific approaches with the scope of educating themselves about the effects of climate change. 2 days later the university organised a seminar with the theme "Sport in the service of the climate", followed by a friendly football match between the veterans of the years 1976 and 1986, an international basketball tournament, martial arts exhibitions, a bike ride under the theme "A city without a car" and a 10 km biking competition along Boulevard Hassan II .(1, 4)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
- Raise public awareness of behaviours, lifestyle and cultural changes with mitigation potential
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Means for conservation governance
- Raise public awareness
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Researchers/University
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Researchers/university
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The intervention was initiated by the University of Sidi Mohammed Benabdellah (USMBA). The university planned and implemented the project with the help from its students, professors and some NGOs. The municipality of Fez was as well involved, though the degree of involvement was not specified. (1,2)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
(The initiative was not part of a EU directive however it should be mentioned that it came as a response to the Marrakech Climate Change Conference from November 2016. It should also be mentioned that Moroccan Minister of Environment is an alumna of the University and originates from Fes, where implementation happened. (3))
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(It seems that the Marrakech Climate Change Conference triggered a series of responses from the Moroccan government in terms of environmental issues. It is unclear if the present intervention is a response to a national plan however it should be mentioned that during the same time when the university was planting trees, the Department of Agriculture of Morocco alongside the Highway Authority started plating 800,000 trees, with the purpose of combating climate change, having in mind COP 22. (6))
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Unknown
Type of funding
- Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
- Other
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
- Other
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Le Matin (2016), Opération de plantation d’arbres pour la protection de l’environnement, available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
2. AgriMaroc (2016), COP22: OPÉRATION DE PLANTATION DE 1.000 ARBRES À FÈS, available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
3. Le Matin (2016), Plantation de 1.000 arbres à Fès, available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
4. Le Vert (2016), FES : UNIVERSITE SIDI MOHAMMED BEN ABDELLAH S’ENGAGE POUR LE CLIMAT, available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
5. MapEcology (2016), MOROCCO PLANTS 1 MILLION TREES IN ONE DAY, available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
6. Mongabay (216), Morocco plants millions of trees along roads to fight climate change, available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
7. BioNet (no date), Jacaranda mimosifolia (Jacaranda), available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
8. Jardinage (no date), Jacaranda en résumé, available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
2. AgriMaroc (2016), COP22: OPÉRATION DE PLANTATION DE 1.000 ARBRES À FÈS, available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
3. Le Matin (2016), Plantation de 1.000 arbres à Fès, available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
4. Le Vert (2016), FES : UNIVERSITE SIDI MOHAMMED BEN ABDELLAH S’ENGAGE POUR LE CLIMAT, available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
5. MapEcology (2016), MOROCCO PLANTS 1 MILLION TREES IN ONE DAY, available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
6. Mongabay (216), Morocco plants millions of trees along roads to fight climate change, available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
7. BioNet (no date), Jacaranda mimosifolia (Jacaranda), available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
8. Jardinage (no date), Jacaranda en résumé, available at Source link (accessed 29-9-2021)
https://lematin.ma/express/2016/plantation-de-1000-arbres-a-fes/256475.html
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the UNA global extension project funded by the British Academy.