HIBAPRESS – A. Mahyawi
In the context of monitoring the constraints facing farmers benefiting from usufructuary lands in the Azaghar region within the jurisdiction of Mireleet, Mr. Saleh Oughbal held a field meeting with a number of concerned farmers, in the presence of representatives from the Water and Forests departments. The meeting was dedicated to discussing the difficulties associated with the tree planting process and listening to the beneficiaries' concerns regarding the future exploitation of these lands.
This meeting provided an opportunity to raise a series of issues faced by farmers, particularly concerning the management of usufructuary lands and the requirements for afforestation, in addition to the commitments that may result from this process and its potential implications on agricultural activities and the livelihoods of the beneficiary families.
The most prominent concerns raised revolve around the extent to which it is possible to reconcile afforestation programs and forest cover conservation, on the one hand, with the continued exploitation of their lands and the practice of agricultural activities by farmers, on the other hand, especially since these lands constitute a primary resource for many families in the region.
In this context, the importance of adopting a participatory approach that takes into account the specificity of the local area and allows farmers to express their demands and expectations becomes apparent. This approach should also clarify the various legal and technical aspects related to the afforestation process, thereby ensuring balanced management of usufructuary lands and preserving the rights of beneficiaries.
This issue also highlights the necessity of finding practical and consensual solutions among the various stakeholders, allowing for the achievement of environmental and developmental objectives without afforestation requirements becoming a factor that negatively affects the social and economic stability of farmers or limits their ability to continue exploiting their lands.
This field meeting is expected to contribute to opening channels of dialogue between farmers and the Water and Forests departments, which will help in identifying the root causes of the problem and seeking suitable formulas to overcome them, with a view to achieving sustainable management of usufructuary lands in the Azaghar region.
The challenge remains to achieve a balanced equation that combines environmental protection and the valorization of natural resources with the safeguarding of farmers' rights and the assurance of the continuity of their livelihood activities, making afforestation a lever for local development rather than an additional source of concern for beneficiaries.
