Speech by the Deputy President of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection: Mr Lhoucine Tijani, for the Lalla Hasnaa 2010 Clean Beaches Trophies.

On behalf of Her Royal Highness The Princess Lalla Hasnaa, President of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, allow me to welcome you to this important event, which celebrates the Clean Beaches Program 2010 Results.

Your Royal Highness, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Clean Beaches Program has continued to grow over the years from an early approach of equipping certain beaches to an integrated vision of comprehensive development that now involves all of the Kingdom’s busiest beaches.

More importantly, the innovative partnership approach advocated by Her Royal Highness The Princess Lalla Hasnaa has enabled a growing mobilization of public and private companies, local authorities and relevant administrations. This tripartite commitment has launched a positive dynamic that provides the actions with both originality and success.

Similarly the increasingly active participation of national and local associations that have joined the program has given new impetus to the environmental education and awareness component, a fundamental pillar of our work.

Today the Clean Beaches Program is a concerted project, which has been well adopted by local stakeholders.

Your Royal Highness, Ladies and Gentlemen,

These results we all are proud of provide encouragement and motivation to proceed further. Much work remains in order to consolidate achievements and continue bringing our beaches to international standards. This should be accomplished by enabling an increasing number of summer visitors to enjoy the beaches while respecting and preserving the wealth and diversity of our coastal heritage.

Following the Royal Message guidance addressed last year to the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection during the tenth anniversary of the Lalla Hasnaa Trophies, and taking into consideration the recommendations of the International Conference on Sustainable Coastal Management held in Tangier in October 2010, Her Royal Highness The Princess Lalla Hasnaa asked me to bring the Clean Beaches Program to a new growth phase:

A phase where we will address key beach issues as part of our integrated coastal area management and related principles and practices.

A phase where we will align our actions with a regional cooperation framework, notably the Mediterranean region, and build on the commitment of Her Royal Highness, as Ambassador of the Coast, with the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan to promote the exchange and sharing of successful experiences and best practices in education and awareness in order to conserve coastal areas and promote their sustainable development.

To conclude, on behalf of Her Royal Highness, I would like to reiterate our sincere thanks to all our partners: the government, local authorities and communities, public and private companies, and all those who contribute to this program’s success, and in particular the civil society and the national and local press.