This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Hibapress-Rabat
As part of the strengthening of cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union in the forestry field, the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) and the European Union delegation in Morocco proceeded, on May 22, 2025 in Rabat, to the official launch of an ambitious institutional twinning project aimed at promoting sustainable, inclusive and resilient management of Moroccan forests.
This twinning project is part of the European program “Al Ard al Khadraa-Terre Verte”, funded by the European Union, and reflects the solidity of the Moroccan-European strategic partnership around common issues: adaptation to climate change, preservation of natural resources, and strengthening institutional capacities in matters of forest and environmental governance.
The event was held under the chairmanship of Mr. Abderrahim Houmy, Director General of ANEF, in the presence of high -level representatives of the European Union delegation in Morocco and partner countries: France, Spain (Andalusian region), Italy and Sweden. Also present were the director of the Treasury and External Finance of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Kingdom of Morocco, as well as several institutional and expert officials.
The strong institutional mobilization testifies to the importance given to the transformation of the national forest sector, carried by the strategy “forests of Morocco 2020–2030”. The launch of this twinning thus reflects the resolved commitment of the Kingdom of Morocco in favor of modern forest governance,
Participatory and sustainable, in line with international standards and sustainable development objectives.
Led by a European consortium coordinated by France and enriched by the complementary expertise in Italy, the Andalusian region of Spain and Sweden, the twinning project is based on a structured cooperation system around peer exchange, the sharing of good practices and the transfer of know-how. The priority areas of intervention cover forest governance, technological innovation, applied research, as well as the capacity building of managers and forest technicians.
The choice of launch date, coinciding with the International Biodiversity Day, celebrated this year under the theme “Harmony with nature and sustainable development”, comes to strengthen the symbolic and strategic significance of the initiative. It highlights the convergence between national priorities and universal commitments in the preservation of biodiversity, essential for the balance of ecosystems and the resilience of the territories.
In his speech, Mr. Abderrahim Houmy stressed that “this twinning goes far beyond a simple technical cooperation: it constitutes a strategic partnership, based on mutual learning, institutional innovation and the co-construction of solutions adapted to the challenges of the field. It will help enrich management practices, to weave sustainable bridges between European and Moroccan institutions, and to bring out a shared culture of sustainability at the service of forests. »»
The launching ceremony was punctuated by a series of rich and interactive activities, including thematic exhibitions, field experience feedback and technical exchanges. It was crowned by the signing of the protocol act, by which the kingdom of Morocco, the European Union and the partner member states (France, Italy, Spain, Sweden) reaffirm their common commitment and their full support for the success of institutional twinning.
