In the collective imagination, the oasis symbolizes the life and hope that emerges in the heart of the desert. For many, the oasis embodies a source of life in the face of the aridity of the surrounding environment. But beyond this image, this ecosystem is home to abundant human, cultural, and natural heritage that is precious and unique in the whole world.
Ahmed Benamar, owner of the El Khorbate Bed & Breakfast in a small village near Errachida, Morocco, says, "when we talk about a ksar (group of fortified earthen buildings) or an oasis, we're not talking about material things; we're talking about human values." Oases also represent a unique cultural heritage and ancestral know-how.
Through a concerted management of natural resources, particularly water, oasis communities have cultivated ancestral practices that continue to be preserved and passed down through generations.?"Local populations have developed means, techniques, and practices that adapt to the capacities and specificities of the environment," explains Lahcen Kabiri, Professor and Researcher at the Moulay Ismail University in Errachidia, activist, and oasis expert.
Examples include farming methods, ancestral irrigation systems, earthen architecture such as ¡°khettarras¡± or draining galleries, and ingenious systems for the most efficient and effective management of water resources. These ancestral practices and know-how have maintained the resilience of the oases over the years. They reflect a profound relationship between man and nature: "The oasis is my mother, this is my country, my mother earth, we find everything here," said Redouane Bousshaba, a farmer in the Errachidia region.
Beyond their architectural and cultural heritage, oases are also home to a unique and invaluable natural capital. "Oases are characterized by biodiversity, geo-diversity, cultural diversity, plus excellent governance," adds Lahcen Kabiri.
However, Morocco has been facing persistent drought for several years now. According to the World Bank's Morocco Country Climate and Development Report (CDDR), water resources have declined by nearly 30% over the past 60 years, increasing pressure on the country's water reserves and placing Morocco in a situation of long-term water stress. Oases, which intrinsically rely on water resources, suffer the direct consequences of this depletion.
In this context, preserving oases and promoting adapted and sustainable agricultural practices are essential to reduce environmental and climatic impacts. It is also essential to support local populations in their resilience to the challenges posed by climate change.
PRESERVING OASIS HERITAGE WHILE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL POPULATIONS
Recognizing the importance of oasis heritage and the looming threat of climate change on its ecosystems, Morocco has actively pursued a national strategy to safeguard and rejuvenate these unique landscapes, in particular through the action of the National Agency for the Development of Oasis Zones and Argan trees (ANDZOA).
ANDZOA is responsible for drawing up, in coordination with government authorities, elected representatives, and other relevant bodies, a comprehensive development program for oasis and argan trees areas and ensuring its implementation and evaluation within the framework of sustainable development at the economic, social, cultural, environmental, and human levels.
One of the main objectives of the national strategy for preserving and revitalizing oases is to improve the well-being of the local population and the attractiveness of oasis territories through the coordinated support of local and regional initiatives.
The Moroccan government has launched several structuring projects to revive the Kingdom's oases, such as the dates processing unit in Ferkla, in the Errachidia region, which helps the region's small farmers. "Before, I had to sell my dates in the morning before they rot, but now if I don't sell them at the souk, I store them in these refrigerators, and the Groupement d'Int¨¦r¨ºt Economique helps us sell our production on international or national markets," said Mbarek Taadid, a farmer in the Errachidia region.
These projects also target vulnerable populations such as young people and women. Mama El Harrouch is proud to work in a date-derived products cooperative: "I'm happy with my job because these are products from our oasis, and it allows me to be active, to work, to earn a salary, and to help my family." She adds: "Before this initiative, in this douar, women didn't work, but today, thanks to God, they do."
Morocco has taken a leadership role in federating efforts to preserve and revitalize the oasis ecosystems around the world. A High-Level Conference will be organized in April 2025 to formally establish the International Commission for the Sustainable Development of the Oases, to activate the ¡°Sustainable Oases Initiative¡±, that will bring together governments, academia, civil society and regional/global organizations, in support to the sustainable management of oases.
SUPPORTING MOROCCO¡¯S EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE OASES
ľ¹ÏÓ°Ôº supports Morocco in various actions designed to strengthen the sustainable management of oasis ecosystems and improve the oasis¡¯ climate resilience.
In particular, the World Bank has supported Morocco in distributing 200,000 palm vitro plants (as of November 2024 - more plants to come), more resilient than usual plants and which are already bearing fruit. "We were the first to install these vitro plants, and now other farmers are asking for them because they've seen the results: they give good quality dates that resist disease and preserve the environment and water," explains Redoua Bousshaba.
ľ¹ÏÓ°Ôº also supports aid programs targeting young people to valorize wastes from oases. Hmad Ousshat, who benefited from such a program, set up a cooperative to reuse date palms as decorative objects, and today, he exhibits his creations at national and international fairs. "Thanks to the project, I've been able to exhibit my creations in various countries, which wasn't easy for a young person."
ľ¹ÏÓ°Ôº strategically prioritizes the enhancement of oasis water management, with a particular focus on the construction of water recharge units. Looking ahead, the World Bank is committed to continuing its partnership with Morocco to revitalize and preserve oasis resources through a series of collaborative projects in the coming years.
