فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Taounate, Morocco – In preparation for the summer season and to address the risk of forest fires, the Provincial Forest Council of Taounate held a meeting on Wednesday at the provincial governorate’s headquarters. The meeting was dedicated to reviewing preventive measures and actions to tackle fires for the 2025 season, in addition to assessing the outcomes and results of forest fires in the Taounate province during the 2024 season.
Forest Resources: Economic and Environmental Importance Facing Growing Challenges
The meeting was chaired by the Governor of Taounate Province, Mr. Saleh Daha, who emphasized “the paramount importance of forest resources and the multifaceted roles they play.” Mr. Daha highlighted the contribution of forests to stimulating the economic cycle and developing financial resources for forest-proximate territorial communities, in addition to their environmental functions related to preserving ecological balances, combating erosion and desertification, and protecting dams from silting. Forests also contribute to promoting mountain tourism and achieving local development, which is essential for population stability and wealth creation in rural areas through income-generating projects.
However, Mr. Daha pointed out that the forest sector in the province, which represents 7% of the total area, is experiencing “continuous decline” due to encroachment, fires, and deforestation by neighboring populations, in addition to overgrazing and the illegal trafficking of birds and medicinal and aromatic plants. The Governor warned that recent rainfall in the province, despite its positive aspects, has contributed to “the growth of dense vegetation, which is among the factors causing fire outbreaks and the destruction of forest wealth and agricultural fields.”
A Comprehensive Preventive Strategy for the 2025 Season
Mr. Daha called for “the mobilization of all concerned parties” to protect forests from destruction, by preparing water points, providing and maintaining firefighting equipment, and reinforcing surveillance points with forest rangers, especially in areas prone to annual fires. Preventive measures also include:
- Prohibiting the establishment of waste and household refuse dumps containing flammable materials within or near forest areas.
- Monitoring forest users (hikers, campers) and raising their awareness to avoid causes of fire.
- Conducting extensive awareness campaigns among the population to urge them to prevent fire outbreaks.
The Provincial Governor confirmed that holding this meeting falls within the framework of “developing a clear action strategy aimed at protecting forest resources and integrating them into the province’s sustainable development plans.”
Details of the 2025 Fire Prevention and Control Plan
For his part, the Provincial Director of the National Agency for Water and Forests in Taounate, Mr. Abdellah Lehlal, presented a report on the “Fire Prevention and Control Plan for the 2025 season.” He stated that the province possesses “important and diverse forest species” covering an area of approximately 42,000 hectares, and is considered “the largest water reservoir in the Kingdom” with a dam capacity of about 5.4 billion cubic meters (approximately 30% nationally). It is also characterized by diverse flora, fauna, and natural areas.
Mr. Lehlal reviewed the socio-economic and environmental functions of forests, as well as the natural and human constraints and environmental imbalances affecting forest areas, which negatively impact human and sustainable development.
Regarding the balance sheet of forest fires in Taounate province between 2014 and 2024, Lehlal reported that the highest number of fires was recorded in 2022 with 26 fires affecting 300 hectares, while 9 fires were recorded in 2024, affecting 57.125 hectares. The largest fire in 2024 occurred in Jabal Zidour in Ain Mediouna commune on July 27, affecting 50 hectares.
The 2025 fire prevention and control plan includes:
- Maintenance of over 23 km of firebreaks.
- Repair of 5 water points and 1.9 km of forest tracks.
- Maintenance of 3 initial intervention vehicles.
- Appointment of 35 forest rangers.
- Organization of intensive awareness activities in coordination and cooperation with various partners and stakeholders to educate the population about the importance of preserving forest areas, including placing warning signs along roads urging avoidance of fire causes and broadcasting awareness messages about the roles of forests and the dangers of fires.
Lehlal also revealed that the Provincial Directorate has a range of equipment, machinery, and infrastructure for fire prevention and control, including 26 water tanks, 28 km of firebreaks, 7 watchtowers, 443 km of forest tracks, 3 initial intervention vehicles, and a prepared station for firefighting aircraft landing.
Civil Protection Challenges and Ways to Overcome Them
From his side, the Provincial Commander of Civil Protection in Taounate, Mr. Rabie El Habzi, stated in his presentation that the number of forest fires recorded in the province between 2015 and 2024 reached 134 fires, affecting a total of 851 hectares of forest cover. In 2024, seven fires were recorded, affecting 61 hectares.
Mr. El Habzi highlighted “the difficulties faced by firefighting teams,” particularly “difficult access and ruggedness of road tracks, especially in mountainous areas, scarcity of water points, the distance of many forests from Civil Protection relief centers, and the lack of phone coverage in some areas, which hinders communication.”
Regarding preventive measures to prevent fire outbreaks and spread, the Provincial Commander of Civil Protection indicated the initiation of awareness campaigns to remind loggers, beekeepers, and charcoal workers of the precautions to be taken, and the necessity of placing “avoid fire” warning signs along main roads. These measures also include:
- Prohibiting open burning between June 1 and August 31 for straw or weeding residues.
- Establishing and maintaining water points to supply rescue and firefighting equipment, especially in rural areas threatened by fire hazards and with difficult access.
- Adherence to safety rules by agricultural machinery users.
The Role of Infrastructure in Reducing Risks
As for the Head of the Basic Infrastructure Department at the Provincial Directorate of Equipment, Transport, and Logistics, Mr. Jamal Issara, he reviewed the Directorate’s intervention program for preventing and reducing forest fires through clearing roadsides by removing weeds and shrubs from classified roads located within forest areas. Mr. Issara added that the Directorate also works on placing and renewing signage urging road users to avoid fire causes in general.
Concluding the meeting, the Provincial Governor emphasized “the necessity of coordinating the efforts of all stakeholders and seeking the most effective means” to contribute to securing forest areas from fires. He stressed “the importance of reinforcing intervention means to extinguish forest fires through mobilizing necessary equipment, preparing forest tracks, and intensifying monitoring by forest rangers, as soon as possible and proactively in preparation for the summer season.”
