Watershed Management: Nizar Baraka and Ahmed El Bouari Expedite Dam Protection
Strengthening Water Resource Management: A Field Visit in Rabat-Salé-Kénitra
In line with the implementation of the framework partnership agreement signed between the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) and the Ministry of Equipment and Water, Mr. Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water, and Mr. Ahmed El Bouari, Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, accompanied by Mr. Abderrahim Houmy, Director General of ANEF, conducted a field visit in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region. This visit focused on monitoring the watershed management programs.
This visit is a continuation of the agreement between the two departments aimed at enhancing the convergence of interventions concerning water resource protection, combating soil erosion and reservoir silting, as well as restoring forest ecosystems, in accordance with the directives of the "Forests of Morocco 2020-2030" strategy.
During this occasion, the two ministers were briefed on the national assessment of watershed management programs led by ANEF, as well as the prospects for their development. At the national level, these interventions involve 33 watersheds, covering nearly 8 million hectares, including 15 strategic watersheds that supply 43 priority dams. To date, more than 1.14 million hectares have been subject to management operations, resulting in the completion of over 3 million cubic meters of water and soil conservation structures aimed at limiting erosion and reducing reservoir silting.
The Ministry of Equipment and Water also presented an overview of the silting status of dams in Morocco, highlighting its evolution on a national scale, the main hydraulic basins, and dam reservoirs. This presentation illustrated the magnitude of the phenomenon, its consequences on the storage capacity of hydraulic structures, and its implications for the Kingdom’s water security. It also focused on the dams most affected by silting, emphasizing the need to strengthen preventive upstream watershed management actions to limit solid inputs and extend the lifespan of hydraulic infrastructures.
The visit was also an opportunity to present the watershed management program for the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region, outlined within the framework of the Regional Forestry Plan. With a total investment of 386 million dirhams for the period from 2026 to 2030, this program adopts an integrated approach that combines reforestation, forest ecosystem restoration, water and soil conservation, erosion control, forest seedling production, and local community involvement, all aimed at sustainably preserving water resources and reducing the silting of hydraulic works.
The professionals then proceeded to the Oued Beht watershed, where participants attended several technical presentations concerning the ongoing management actions. They learned about biological treatment operations, including reforestation, vegetation cover restoration, and forest ecosystem regeneration, as well as mechanical treatment works, which involve the construction of torrent correction structures and water and soil conservation measures designed to reduce runoff, stabilize slopes, and limit sediment transport to reservoir sites.
These achievements illustrate the integrated approach adopted by ANEF, which combines biological and mechanical interventions to sustainably enhance watershed functionality, strengthen territorial resilience against the effects of climate change, and preserve the Kingdom’s water resources.
Through this field visit, the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, the Ministry of Equipment and Water, and the National Agency for Water and Forests reaffirm their shared commitment to accelerating the implementation of watershed management programs, regarded as a strategic lever for water security, dam protection, forest ecosystem restoration, and sustainable territorial development.
