HIBAPRESS
The National Agency for Water and Forests denied on Tuesday, March 3rd, what was circulated in a number of media outlets regarding alleged tree cutting operations in the Maamora forest.
The agency explained in a statement that, contrary to what has been promoted, the matter is not at all related to any programmed cutting or planned forest exploitation, confirming that the interventions recorded in the field came as a result of the strong winds and severe weather fluctuations that several regions in the area witnessed during the first days of February. It stated that these exceptional climatic phenomena caused the fall, uprooting or damage of hundreds of trees in a number of provinces, especially Kenitra, Sidi Slimane, Sidi Kacem, Khémisset and Rabat, pointing out that at the level of the Rabat prefecture alone, 594 trees of various species (cork oak, pine, eucalyptus, acacia, and juniper) were recorded as damaged or uprooted, while initial estimates indicate damage to 520 trees in the Kenitra province, in addition to other damages recorded in neighboring provinces. The agency highlighted that the ongoing works in some areas within the Maamora forest are exclusively limited to cleaning and securing operations, which aim to remove fallen trees on forest trails, prevent accident risks for forest space users, and reduce plant health risks and prevent the spread of potential diseases. It affirmed that these interventions fall within the normal practices of forest management following extreme climatic phenomena and do not represent any kind of forest exploitation campaign. Considering that it is the largest cork oak forest in the Kingdom, the Maamora forest is a strategic ecological asset. Its management is based on a scientific and sustainable approach, framed by approved planning schemes, aiming to ensure the natural renewal of forest communities, protect biodiversity, and enhance its resilience in the face of climate change. While reassuring the public and civil society components, the agency confirms that there is no mass tree cutting operation in the Maamora forest, and that the implemented interventions fall exclusively within the framework of securing and rehabilitation after weather fluctuations. The agency reiterated its commitment to the principle of transparency, indicating that it remains at the disposal of the public to provide all additional data related to the state of the forest reserve and the measures adopted in its management.
