The Clean Beaches program is conducted in line with the “Let our beaches smile” program launched in 1999 by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, who wanted the internationally acclaimed Blue Flag label to be flown on the beaches of Morocco. The Ecolabel is recognized by the World Tourism Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme and is managed internationally by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and in Morocco by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection.

The Nador region has been experiencing significant development in recent years and receives an increasing number of visitors whose environmental impact cannot be ignored, particularly at the Nador Lagoon. Successful tourism in the area must be sustainable and protect itself from potential damage from tourism.

In order to upgrade the beaches and preserve the resources of wetlands, including the Nador Lagoon, the workshop helps to raise awareness of the interactions between beach management and lagoon protection by promoting good environmental practices, based on the new European directive, the bill for Moroccan standards, and beach profiles. This activity is part of the support project for the implementation of a comprehensive plan to clean up and protect the Nador Lagoon.

National and international experts were mobilized to present their experiences to local stakeholders on the conservation and management of beaches and wetlands, particularly in terms of techniques for conservation, protection, enhancement, environmental monitoring of these areas, and outreach to users and tourists.

The workshop will also present ways for improvement in terms of planning, management, analysis and monitoring of swimming and bathing water quality, and strengthening coordination between the various stakeholders.

This event will be a good opportunity to discuss the elements necessary for sustainable management of beaches and wetlands and consolidate the actions of managers involved in this issue.