Marchica’s Lagoon – La Fondation Mohammed VI pour la Protection de l’Environnement

Coastal Preservation

Marchica Lagoon

The Marchica lagoon clean-up program, initiated by the Foundation in 2009, has helped save a remarkable area of biological, ecological, economic and landscape interest. The Foundation now conducts educational and awareness-raising activities there.

Swimming in the Marchica lagoon

The Sebkha Lagoon of Bou Areg, known as the Marchica Lagoon, is one of the most important lagoons of the Mediterranean by virtue of its size (14,000 ha). This ecosystem was made fragile by the development of human activities: urban, industrial, agricultural and economic waste generated by a rapidly growing population.

The French Global Environment Fund and the French Development Agency, within the framework of funding the Greater Nador sanitation project, called on the Foundation to implement a global plan for the decontamination, protection and development of the Marchica Lagoon.

Ultimately, the aim is to attain Lagoon water quality levels allowing the long-term possibility of bathing and producing edible shellfish. To achieve these environmental quality thresholds, the management plan implemented a comprehensive and sustainable clean-up program, focusing on the back-country whose discharges converge on the lagoon.

This goal is practically met. The Foundation is now focusing on raising awareness and educating people on the environment through the Eco-Schools, YRE, Green Key and Blue Flag programs. It also collects and disseminates knowledge about the lagoon.

Coastal Preservation

Marchica Lagoon

The Goals

Introduction
objectives
Implementation
Achievements

The objectives of the Marchica Lagoon Pollution Control Program are to:

Clean up the lagoon

Raise awareness among local populations

Educate by spreading knowledge about the lagoon

Implement a global clean-up plan

Set up permanent structures to protect the lagoon

Identify, protect and regenerate biodiversity

Educate local residents about proper behaviors to protect the lagoon

Implementation

The Foundation mobilized and coordinated all stakeholders needed for the success of this key clean-up project. It pushed for the implementation of necessary awareness-raising and educational actions.