Draft Environmental Report on Morocco

To address this situation, environmental investigations, such as this draft environmental report of Morocco, are urgently needed. The report consists of an introductory description covering Morocco"s geography, population, and economic characteristics, followed by an examination of the country"s environment and natural resources, including flora, mineral resources, soils, water resources, legislation governing the environment and natural resources, and relevant organizations. In addition, demographic and economic characteristics are enumerated in various tables, and maps are presented to illustrate geological, vocational, and agricultural features. Currently, Morocco is confronted with a number of environmental problems. Population increases and pollution from urban sewage and oil are straining the environment. Soil erosion has accelerated due to overgrazing and poor water management practices. Vegetative denudation has resulted from grassland and forest destruction. Inappropriate water management practices used in irrigation projects have caused silting of reservoirs and indirectly increased the incidence of malaria and bilharzia. Ignorance of small-scale water management methods has resulted in watershed destruction while loss of habitat and other hunting pressures have caused widespread wildlife destruction. Morocco has environmental legislation that addresses some of these problems, but overcoming resistance to changing traditional land use practices destructive to the environment poses perhaps the greatest obstacle to enforcement. Appended is an extensive bibliography of English and French sources on Africa (1954-75) and Morocco (1960-78), as well as on development(1964-78), environment and natural resources management (1960-79), fauna and flora (1967-78), geology (1963-79), mineral resources (1947-79), range management (1966-78), soils (1968-77), and water (1967-79).