The plant cover of the commune of Toubkal, located on the southern side of the High Atlas Mountains in southern Morocco, has now been increased by 8,000 fruit trees (almond and walnut trees). It is the culmination of the first phase of the Toubkal sustainable arboriculture project, launched on February 12, 2019, by the High Atlas Foundation (FHA).
The second phase of the project, which is already under way, is expected to be completed in February 2021 with the planting of 12,000 other almond and walnut trees in five localities: Agadir, Amsouzaret, Talmerselt, Imhiln, and Osrayn. Thus, a reforestation programme involving 20,000 fruit trees is under way, in line with a sustainable development strategy.
This project consists of supporting small farmers in the organic cultivation of high value-added fruit trees, from planting to product development. This process provides the inhabitants of the villages concerned with a sustainable source of income while helping to regenerate the plant cover and combat soil erosion.
Product certification is also in sight
As part of the Toubkal tree cultivation project, the High Atlas Foundation (FHA) is supported by the Global Environment Facility’s microfinance programme, the United Nations Development Programme and the Crédit Agricole du Maroc (CAM) Group, through its Foundation for Sustainable Development. The latter is responsible for the acquisition and planting of organic fruit tree seedlings for small farmers, training farmers in grafting these trees, the specifics of organic maintenance, harvesting the fruit and handling it organically until it is marketed.
The Crédit Agricole du Maroc Foundation also undertakes to finance the organic certification of these micro orchards by means of group certification, as well as the production of educational material (a documentary film) that will enable the replication of organic mountain arboriculture initiatives in other regions of Morocco.
Over time, the farmers benefiting from the operation will be identified on a digital mapping of agricultural terraces through the development of a geographic information system. The villages targeted by the project are the same villages that in 2016 had obtained Ecocert certification. An award that guarantees and promotes the best social and environmental practices.
Boris Ngounou