182 forest fires broke out in Morocco in the first half of 2023, says ANEF

Morocco recorded a total of 182 forest fire outbreaks between January 1 and July 10, 2023, as a result of escalating and continuous heat waves and high temperatures that sparked various forest fire eruptions around the kingdom.

The forest fire breakouts burned 1251 hectares, of which 54% were secondary species and herbaceous formations, according to a press release released on Tuesday by the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF).

Moroccan officials have issued a warning that numerous forests could be at risk of fire, as a result of the country’s current high temperatures.

“The monitoring apparatus is operating at its highest level, given that there is a high probability of a fire outbreak in the next few days.” The ANEF urged everyone who enters a forest to “exercise extreme caution and refrain from lighting fires during the summer.”

Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima was the area most severely impacted, with 68 fire starts on 881 hectares, or 70% of the total nationwide.

Souss-Massa, which accounted for 190 hectares (15%) of the total burned area, was the second-most severely impacted area.

“The goal is to avoid any behavior that can cause a fire and to notify right once to the appropriate authorities any observation of a fire or any suspicious activity in forest regions”, said the agency.

This strategy is “critical to safeguard our  forest heritage and strengthen its vital socio-economic and environmental function” according to the Agency.

Every year, fires break out in Morocco’s forests, over roughly 12% of the country’s land, as well as in the palm oases in the southeast.

About 500 forest fires were reported in Morocco in 2022, resulting in the destruction of 22,762 hectares of forest, with the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region leading the way with 188 fires and 18,704 hectares lost.

The Fez-Meknes region saw 99 fires that consumed 1,775 hectares of forested land, coming in second, according to the ANEF.