The cedar trees in the forests of Midelt are facing extinction due to human activities, particularly from “forest mafias” that illegally sell the cedar wood in secret markets for a low price.
Said Larbi, an environmental activist in the Boumia district, said that the forest diversity in the region is now seriously threatened by the “long arm of the forest mafias that target cedar trees more than other trees.”
Larbi added that the forest in the Middle Atlas is characterized by its great diversity, with the majority of its vegetation cover being a homogeneous or mixed group of trees, such as green oak, cedar, pine, juniper, rosemary, and others.
When these forest ecosystems are in good condition, they play a vital role in the social and economic life of the locals and the region as a whole.
The environmental activist called on the regional authorities in Midelt to “mobilize the relevant authorities to put an end to the problem of the deteriorating situation of cedar trees in the region and to initiate legal and judicial procedures against the mafias and anyone involved in the looting of cedar wood in general.”
Daoud Oussaber, a resident of Tounfite, said that the area of the forest has declined dramatically in recent years due to the overexploitation of forest resources by the mafias that continue to encroach on this precious treasure.
The resident denounced the dangers of the destruction of the forest cover by “mafias and brokers.”
Oussaber urged ” the activation of the joint circular between the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice, and the Water and Forests sector issued on January 20, 2011, concerning the action plan to combat the phenomenon of the depletion of forest resources to deter violators and protect this natural resource.”
Oussaber also called for intensifying patrols around the forest to confront anyone who dares to tamper with the region’s forest resources. He urged the residents to “not be lenient with these mafias that seek material gain at the expense of the life of nature and humans.”
In line with the efforts to curb the illegal exploitation of cedar trees, a source from the regional directorate of the National Agency for Water and Forests in Drâa-Tafilalet told Hespress that the agency’s offices in Midelt, in coordination with the local authorities, the Royal Gendarmerie, and the auxiliary forces, have developed an action plan and a regional strategy to protect the cedar trees and prevent their extinction.
The source said that there are a number of interventions carried out by the agency’s offices to deter violators.
“The National Agency for Water and Forests, in coordination with the other departments, will work to create regional committees to carry out patrols to various carpentry workshops in Morocco. Anyone caught with cedar wood, whether in large or small quantities, must present documents proving that it is licensed. Otherwise, it will be seized and the person concerned will be brought to justice,” the source said.
The source called on the residents to “lend a helping hand to the local authorities and the Water and Forests departments, and to report any illegal activity targeting the forest in general and cedar trees in particular.
The residents should also coordinate with the media to expose these crimes that threaten the forest cover and the environment in general.”
It’s worth noting that the total area of the forest area in the region is 462,884 hectares, which represents 35% of the region’s area. Of this, 11% is covered by cedar trees, according to information provided to Hespress by the National Agency for Water and Forests in Midelt.
However, environmental activists in Midelt have confirmed that the area of cedar trees is continuously decreasing due to the activities of the “forest mafias.”
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.