RESTOR'MED FORESTS
The RESTOR’MED FORESTS project aims to implement sustainable management actions for forest ecosystems around the Mediterranean basin, in order to make them more resilient and functional, while training technical staff and raising awareness among local populations. It also aims to involve the local population at each stage of its development, in order to make them a real player in the development of their territory.
It was divided into two national components: RESTOR’MED FORESTS Morocco and RESTOR’MED FOREST Lebanon.
Supported by the EDF Group Foundation, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, the SUD PACA Region and the Bouches-du-Rhône Department, the RESTOR’MED FORESTS project lasted 3 years, starting on January 1, 2021 and ending on December 31, 2023.
CONTEXT
The project is part of the “United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration” declared by the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). The objective of this decade is to massively strengthen the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems, as a measure to combat the climate crisis and to strengthen food security, water supply and biodiversity.
It is based on the concept of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) developed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): these are actions aimed at protecting, restoring and sustainably managing natural or modified ecosystems in order to meet societal challenges while ensuring human well-being and producing benefits for biodiversity. 3 types of actions are listed, including the restoration of degraded ecosystems or the creation of new ecosystems.
RESTOR'MED FORESTS Morocco
The Moroccan component of the RESTOR’MED FORESTS project was located in the Chefchaouen region, in the Talassemtane National Park, a site with remarkable biodiversity. The park’s flora includes 11 major forest species, including the endemic and emblematic Abies Marocana fir. In addition, there are 35 other endemic species, 15 very rare species and 11 rare species. However, the park is subject to constraints related to agricultural land use, causing clearing, soil erosion and desertification of forest areas; as well as the risk of forest fires.
RESTOR'MED FORESTS Morocco
The Moroccan component of the RESTOR’MED FORESTS project was located in the Chefchaouen region, in the Talassemtane National Park, a site with remarkable biodiversity. The park’s flora includes 11 major forest species, including the endemic and emblematic Abies Marocana fir. In addition, there are 35 other endemic species, 15 very rare species and 11 rare species. However, the park is subject to constraints related to agricultural land use, causing clearing, soil erosion and desertification of forest areas; as well as the risk of forest fires.
RESTOR'MED FORESTS Lebanon
The Lebanese component of RESTOR’MED FORESTS took place on two separate sites: the Bentael Nature Reserve and the Menjez Forest, both remarkable for their biodiversity. The Bentael site is indeed a biodiversity hotspot declared an "Important Bird Area" and the Menjez village forest is home to the Mount Tabor oak (Quercus ithaburensis, endemic), as well as many rare endemic floral species (Lathyrus basalticus, Verbascum blancheanum, Vicia hyaeniscianus, etc.).
RESTOR'MED FORESTS Lebanon
The Lebanese component of RESTOR’MED FORESTS took place on two separate sites: the Bentael Nature Reserve and the Menjez Forest, both remarkable for their biodiversity. The Bentael site is indeed a biodiversity hotspot declared an "Important Bird Area" and the Menjez village forest is home to the Mount Tabor oak (Quercus ithaburensis, endemic), as well as many rare endemic floral species (Lathyrus basalticus, Verbascum blancheanum, Vicia hyaeniscianus, etc.).
GOALS
The RESTOR’MED FORESTS project aimed to implement a sustainable management method and restoration actions in Moroccan and Lebanese forest areas, considered emblematic, all in a participatory approach involving local populations at all levels. These actions have enabled these ecosystems to become healthy, resilient and functional again, and thus to adapt to climate change and contribute to reducing the risks of fire, proliferation of harmful insects, to the protection of biodiversity and to the socio-economic development of local populations.
RESTOR'MED FORESTS Morocco
In Morocco, this project resulted in a restoration action on a 15-hectare plot, work on which began in December 2021. This plot made it possible to plant not only maritime pine but also to sow Abies Marocanna, which is of high ecological and endemic importance.
RESTOR'MED FORESTS Lebanon
In Lebanon, 3 hectares of forest areas have been restored and various pruning and biological control actions carried out in order to combat epidemics affecting stone pines and oaks.
Both projects have enabled the creation of local seasonal jobs for local populations. In addition, awareness-raising actions for schoolchildren and local populations, as well as the development of knowledge and skills of forestry technical staff, have taken place.
The methodologies implemented and the results obtained from the project were capitalized on by AIFM and disseminated within its network before being presented at the 15th World Forestry Congress in Seoul (Republic of Korea) in 2022. Each of the two components of the project allowed local partners to come and present the results obtained in Marseille at the end of their implementation.
PARTNERSHIP
In Morocco, AIFM worked on the implementation of the project with the following partners:
- The Department of Water and Forests, represented by the Regional Directorate of Water and Forests and the Fight against Desertification of the Rif (DREFLCD-R);
- The Talassemtane Association for the Environment and Development (ATED);
- The Moroccan Association of Regional Sciences (AMSR).
In Lebanon, AIFM has partnered with:
- the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI),
- the Municipality of Menjez,
- and the Bentael Nature Reserve Management Committee.
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