“Green Crusaders: Morocco’s Environmental Battle for Sustainable Plantations”

The Morocco Environment 2050 movement is stepping up its efforts. Following its online petition against palm tree plantations, the movement is recruiting ambassadors from among citizens to amplify its message to the presidents of municipalities…

In the ongoing environmental saga of Morocco 2050, the fight against haphazard palm tree plantations has intensified. Following a 2021 social media campaign demanding the suspension of random palm tree planting in cities and villages, Morocco 2050 launched an online petition in September 2022.

Directed at the Ministry of National Planning and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the petition condemns environmentally questionable choices and advocates for responsible tree replanting while banning palm trees in unsuitable environments.

No More Palm Trees!

In 2023, activists from Morocco 2050 are back, more determined than ever to carry their fight to fruition. A strongly worded letter addressed to the presidents of various local municipalities in the kingdom has been dispatched by the movement. The tone of this missive is echoed by new “ambassadors” recruited from environmentally conscious citizens. The call for volunteers to become movement ambassadors has been met with enthusiasm, as citizens are eager to actively participate in the cause.

Taking Action:

The call to action has not fallen on deaf ears. Ambassadors swiftly enlisted have already sent denouncing letters from Morocco 2050 to the presidents of several municipalities, including Casablanca, Tiznit, Meknès, Boufekrane, Taroudante, Tanger, Fès Sais, Martil, Sraghna, Oujda, with more to follow, as confirmed by the movement’s president.

Preserving Biodiversity:

Morocco, ranked second in biodiversity in the Mediterranean basin, faces the responsibility of preserving this richness. According to Salima Belemekedem, the landscape architect and president of Morocco Environment 2050, introducing non-native palm tree varieties to the national environment is not only nonsensical but also costly for municipal budgets.

Intruding Palms:

The movement criticizes the introduction of American palm varieties, Washingtonia robusta and Pritchardia pacifica, labeling them as “aberrant choices” unsuitable for Morocco’s natural environment. The movement argues for the preservation of Morocco’s visual identity and landscape memory, emphasizing the detrimental effects of planting palm trees on the mental health of the population, social peace, and the tourism potential of cities and villages.

Trees as Saviors:

Morocco Environment 2050 stresses the vital role of green spaces as the lungs of a city, promoting urban ecology for a holistic environmental perspective. Activists argue for the importance of trees in ecological balance, oxygenation of cities, dust capture, and compensation for CO2 pollution. The movement demands an immediate halt to random palm tree plantations, emphasizing the urgency of the environmental future of municipalities and the country.

Alternatives:

Morocco Environment 2050 urges the regulation of palm tree planting, limiting it to suitable environments, and calls for the removal of already planted palm trees, replacing them with trees in the upcoming season. The movement proposes alternatives, suggesting the Carob tree as an excellent choice for Casablanca due to its beauty, dense foliage, and low water requirements, without causing damage to infrastructure.

Morocco Environment 2050’s environmental battle against unsuitable palm tree plantations reflects a commitment to preserving the nation’s biodiversity and fostering a sustainable future.

As ambassadors amplify the movement’s message, citizens and municipalities are urged to reconsider planting choices, embracing alternatives that align with the ecological needs of Morocco’s cities and villages.