A wave of fires sweeping through Morocco’s southeastern oases is raising alarms among environmental activists, who warn the destruction risks accelerating the collapse of fragile ecosystems already strained by drought and poor management.
In recent years, blazes have become disturbingly frequent across traditional palm groves, destroying centuries-old biodiversity and damaging a key pillar of local economies. Activists say these are no longer isolated incidents, but signs of structural neglect, possibly even deliberate marginalization of an ecologically sensitive zone.
Environmental groups are urging Rabat to adopt a national rescue plan. Their demands include deploying more fire prevention resources, clearing dry vegetation, launching awareness campaigns, and ensuring swift emergency response. “We’re calling for a proactive fire strategy, not seasonal improvisation,” said Najib Abdelouahab , a local ecological campaigner.
With summer temperatures rising and rainfall increasingly erratic, the threat of fire is only growing. “These fires are eroding not just palm groves but the social and economic fabric of oasis communities,” Abdelouahab said.
“One misthrown cigarette or cooking fire can destroy livelihoods in minutes.”
Activists also cite policy failures. Jamal Aqchbab, head of the Friends of the Environment Association, questioned whether recent fires signal a shift away from preserving traditional oasis ecosystems in favor of industrial-scale agriculture.
“This isn’t just climate,” he said. “It’s about misaligned priorities and silent abandonment.”
Critics point to Morocco’s “Green Plan,” which has encouraged water-intensive farming in regions ill-suited to such practices. The expansion of large agricultural estates has increased pressure on groundwater, while oasis upkeep has declined.
The fires, activists say, underscore an urgent need for structural reform. “Oases are more than tourist postcards, they’re climate buffers and cultural assets,” said Aqchbab. “Yet we’re watching them burn, season after season, with no coordinated response.”
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