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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - Biodiversity, management and uses of Camargue marshes Biodiversity, perception and conservation Hydrology of Mediterranean wetlands Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the Isle of Camargue Integrated coastal zones management Integrated Management of the Bas Loukkos marshes, Morocco Management of Mikri Prespa wet meadows Management plan of the Tour du Valat estate Management plans Participative management and multi-uses of marshes Processes of adaptation of communities in the Camargue Sustainable development and restoration of the estate Technical transfer unit for Mediterranean lagoons

Integrated management of the Bas Loukkos marshes, Morocco

Project leader: Brigitte POULIN (See the CV)

Team:

Jean Jalbert, Gaetan Lefebvre, Mohammed Dakki , Mohammed-Aziz El Agbani , Hamid Rguibi Idrissi

The wetlands of the Bas Loukkos, Morrocco are an estuarine complex of freshwater marshes in the floodplain of the oued Loukkos in the Province of Larache, close to the town of Larache that comprises 200 000 inhabitants. Following urban expansion and hydro-agricultural developments, the total area of this wetland has regressed from 3325 to 1210 ha within a single generation. These modifications have likely affected the functioning of the ecosystem and are threatening the resources it offers to the local populations (water for agriculture, pasture lands, building material for thatched roofs, hunting and fishing bags). Yet, the site, which is characterized by large formations of Iris, Cladium, Nymphea, and Salix still supports a rich and remarkable fauna, including several species of high conservation value such as eels, otters, and many vulnerable bird species including Marbled Teal, Eurasian Bittern, Little Bittern, Crested Coot, Purple Gallinule, Moustached Warbler, and Aquatic Warbler.
These wetlands are identified as a Site of Biological and Ecological Interest (SIBE) by the Directing Plan of Protected Areas in Morrocco since 1996, and were more recently designated as a Ramsar site. An integrated management plan and a project in ecotourism and environmental education are currently underway by the Scientific Institute of Rabat. The site is also involved in an international cooperation between the Regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (France) and Tanger-Tétouan (Morocco) of which goal is to insure the protection and sustainable development of the Bas-Loukkos marshes.

The main objective of the project is to contribute to the sustainable management of the Bas-Loukkos marshes through a better understanding of the ecosystem functioning based on a multidisciplinary approach (ecology, hydrology, sociology, economy, geography), which integrates the ecological and socio-economic values of the habitat.

Contents:

• Issues
• Activities
• Partners

Issues :

Scientific issues

• Bird-plant-uses interactions in relation to management practices (hydrology, grazing, thatching)
• Niche breadth of marsh species found in Morocco having a vulnerable status in Europe
• Potential impacts of climatic changes on the migration and breeding strategies of marshland passerines relative to hydrology and food availability.

Conservation issues

• Transfer and re-evaluation of methodological protocols developed in France for monitoring Moroccan wetlands and their vulnerable fauna
• Raising the awareness of stakeholders about the sustainable management of marshes and the importance of the negotiation processes in the collective management of resources.

Activities:

• Monitoring of water levels and bird sampling protocols tested and put into place in April 2006
• Habitat characterisation and application of modified protocols planned for May 2007.

Partners:

• Institut Scientifique de Rabat
• Université Chouaib Doukkali
• Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (CRBPO)
• Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue
• Région PACA
• Association Française des Volontaires du Progrès.

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Photo :

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  Iris/Cladium dominated marshes in the Bas Loukkos

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