HIBAPRESS Fikri Ould Ali
The headquarters of the Al Hoceima province hosted, today, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, a meeting of the Regional Committee for Vigilance and Prevention of Fires in the forest area, within the framework of proactive preparations for the upcoming summer season, and the activation of a practical and field plan aimed at strengthening prevention mechanisms and combating forest fires in the province.
This meeting was chaired by the Governor of Al Hoceima, Mr. Fouad Haji, in the presence of the Secretary-General of the Province, and officials of the Royal Armed Forces, the Royal Gendarmerie, National Security, auxiliary forces, local authorities, in addition to representatives of the National Agency for Water and Forests, Civil Protection, and the relevant external interests, as well as the heads of the territorial communities located in the forest area. The Governor of the province affirmed, in a speech on the occasion, that protecting the forest cover in the Al Hoceima province is of particular importance given the vast forest areas that the province possesses, stressing the need to raise the level of mobilization and readiness among the various intervention teams, and to strengthen coordination between all stakeholders to ensure the effectiveness of prevention operations and rapid intervention in the event of fires. During the meeting, the Regional Director of the National Agency for Water and Forests presented a detailed presentation on the plan to prevent and combat forest fires for the year 2026, which included the most prominent preventive and operational measures adopted to address the risks associated with the summer season. The Governor of the province stressed that the meeting constitutes an essential step for early preparation for the summer season, calling on the various parties to intensify mobilization efforts in order to preserve the positive results recorded during the past year and to work to achieve a better outcome during the current year. He also highlighted the importance of the permanent readiness of intervention teams with their various specializations, especially during the summer period, by providing the necessary equipment and equipment, and carrying out proactive interventions on the sides of the roads and the surroundings of the villages, in addition to strengthening the fire monitoring system and strengthening the communication network in areas adjacent to forests, with the preparation of a local and regional action plan that ensures the speed and effectiveness of interventions. In the same context, the importance of awareness-raising campaigns for the benefit of the population was emphasized, and the activation of the role of local committees for fire prevention, in view of the constraints facing the protection of the forest cover, including freedom of access to forests, and the presence of population gatherings within them, in addition to some irresponsible behaviors such as burning agricultural and domestic waste, as well as the density of the vegetation cover and the dryness of secondary plants. In contrast, the meeting praised the existence of an effective institutional framework for managing forest fires, and the effectiveness of coordination and field and air interventions, as well as the accumulated experience accumulated by the various intervening interests in this field. As part of the practical measures adopted for the year 2026, the mobilization of 65 forest observers was announced, the strengthening of 35 monitoring points, the organization of 30 field patrols, in addition to the early start of awareness campaigns starting in June, with periodic meetings to follow up on the implementation of the intervention plan, and the appointment of seasonal guards from the local population in coordination with the territorial communities and their distribution to various monitoring points.
