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Below is the environmental bulletin of the Moroccan News Agency (MAP) as part of the environmental file of the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA). Thanks to Environment/Morocco/FANA/Report.

Seven topics for the Moroccan News Agency within the environmental file of the Federation (FANA)

Rabat - 6 - 10 (KUNA) -- Hunting tourism qualifications and development prospects were the focus of a seminar held in Marrakech.

Marrakech -- The prospects for developing hunting tourism in Morocco and its role in enhancing the natural and hunting resources with which the Kingdom is endowed formed the core of an informational and educational seminar held on Friday, October 2, in Marrakech. The event brought together various stakeholders, professionals, and partners in the hunting sector.

Organized by the National Office of Forests and Water (ONCF) in partnership with the Royal Moroccan Hunting Federation, the meeting marked the launch of the 2026-2027 hunting season. It served as a forum for discussion and exchange of experiences on ways to develop this product, particularly through archery hunting, considered one of the new offerings that can contribute to diversifying and enhancing Morocco’s hunting tourism product and stimulating the local economy.

In a speech on the occasion, the Director General of the National Office of Forests and Water, Abderrahim Hommi, highlighted the "growing dynamism" witnessed by the hunting tourism sector in the Kingdom, noting the contribution of 146 specialized companies alongside efforts to diversify hunting products and services. Mr. Hommi added that these efforts include developing archery hunting to enhance the attractiveness of this activity and leverage its tourism and environmental potential.

In a statement to the press, the President of the Royal Moroccan Hunting Federation, Ahmed Moussaoui, expressed the Federation’s commitment to continuing work toward developing responsible, ethical, and safe hunting practices, in line with the objectives of the national strategy "Forests of Morocco 2020-2030." He emphasized that advancing the hunting sector requires strengthening its governance and mobilizing various stakeholders to ensure a balance between conserving biodiversity, sustainably managing hunting resources, enhancing natural and rural areas, and contributing to local economic and social development.

First edition of "Creative Energies": Group exhibition fosters dialogue among diverse perspectives on water

Marrakech -- An ongoing group exhibition at the Mohammed VI Museum of Water Civilization in the Red City until October 30 brings together 12 artists around the theme "Water: Source of Life and Creativity." This event is part of the first edition of the artistic program "Creative Energies," which calls for contemporary creativity to interrogate major issues affecting societies, territories, and the environment.

Organized by the Association for the Development of Art, Culture, Ecology, Heritage, and Environment, with support from the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication (Culture Sector) and in partnership with the "Arkane" Association, the Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, the Municipality of Marrakech, and the Italian Embassy, the exhibition facilitates a dialogue among different practices and perspectives on water.

Participating visual artists seek to express their impressions and reflections on this vital substance through the exhibition, while also questioning human attitudes and behaviors toward water. The exhibition aims to move beyond simplistic representations of water, opening a space for thinking about the relationship between humans, their environment, and natural resources.

In a statement to MAP, artist Valérie Erbin expressed her happiness at participating in this water-themed exhibition, organized at the Mohammed VI Museum of Water Civilization, which she described as "a distinguished and highly suitable space to host an event on this topical subject." She noted that she is presenting a series of artworks titled "Random Worlds," which specifically address the issue of water scarcity.

For her part, artist Ilham Laraki Omari highlighted that her participation features three oil-on-canvas works inspired by the Quranic verse "We made from water every living thing." She chose to translate this content into a binary language (based on the numbers 1 and 0) before integrating it into her artistic compositions.

According to organizers, issues related to water, drought, climate change, and the resilience of territories hold particular importance in Morocco. In response to these challenges, the Association for the Development of Art, Culture, Ecology, Heritage, and Environment, the "Arkane" Association, and their partners aim to make art a space for awareness, dialogue, and inquiry.

Assessing landscape resilience and enhancing local solutions as the focus of meetings in Azilal

Azilal -- Assessing the resilience capacity of landscapes in the lower catchment areas of the Oueds Akhrou and Ahançal, and enhancing innovative local solutions, were the focal points of consultative meetings and an exhibition of knowledge held on Monday and Tuesday, September 28 and 29, 2026, in Azilal. The events brought together institutional actors and civil society members.

Organized by the Research Group for the Protection of Birds in Morocco, these meetings are part of the Community Development and Knowledge Management program of the Satoyama Initiative (COMDEKS), which serves as the operational pillar of the global Satoyama Initiative. This initiative aims to establish an unprecedented scientific and participatory approach targeting the Middle High Atlas, one of the Kingdom’s most prominent socio-ecological productive landscapes.

In a statement to MAP, Khadija Bouras, Executive Director of the Group, explained that the initiative seeks to enhance the resilience of local communities and reconcile biodiversity conservation with the sustainable use of natural resources to improve the living conditions of local populations. She highlighted the Group’s role as a "catalyst" for the project at both national and local levels, noting the support provided to eight associations in implementing their projects through financial backing from the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme.

In a similar statement, Hassan Akhmerdi, representative of the Tamsoult Association for Environment and Sustainable Development in the Tbaant commune, presented a model farm project that serves as a school for ecological agriculture. He explained that the facility includes a nursery for aromatic, medicinal, and endangered tree species, a unit for producing sprouted barley using hydroponic technology, and a Berber tent dedicated to promoting ecological and solidarity tourism.

The COMDEKS program is supported by a wide network of international partners, including the Global Environment Facility’s Small Grants Programme, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the Institute for Advanced Study on Sustainability at the United Nations University.

Rabat seminar calls for strengthening forest conservation mechanisms

Rabat -- Participants in a seminar held on Saturday, September 26, in Rabat, emphasized that the state of Morocco’s forests requires addressing various challenges and strengthening conservation and sustainability mechanisms, while considering the environmental, developmental, and social dimensions associated with this national natural asset.

Participants in the seminar, organized by the Moroccan Association for the Protection of Forests under the slogan "Morocco’s Forests: A Strategic National Wealth and a Fortress for Environmental Security and Sustainable Development," stated that the meeting falls within the national debate on protecting, enhancing, and ensuring the sustainability of Morocco’s forest wealth. They described forests as a strategic national asset whose significance extends beyond environmental considerations to form a fundamental component of natural balances, environmental security, and sustainable development.

In this regard, Azeddine Benjelloun Touimi, National President of the Moroccan Association for the Protection of Forests, stated that the Association has outlined a promising work program, spearheaded by intensifying afforestation efforts and restructuring and developing the Association’s performance to elevate its presence and role at both national and international levels. He clarified that protecting the environment and biodiversity is a national and shared responsibility requiring active involvement from all segments of society and citizens, alongside the Association’s structures. He stressed that awareness and education constitute the primary means to curb violations affecting forest resources.

For her part, Nadia Skriha, a member of the Association’s National Bureau, affirmed that the Moroccan forest is not merely a natural space but a strategic national asset where environmental, water, soil, biodiversity, and climate considerations intersect. She noted its links to economic and social interests and diverse fields, emphasizing that its conservation requires an integrated vision moving beyond ad hoc management toward a proactive and sustainable policy based on prevention, scientific knowledge, sound management, responsible enhancement of resources, and strengthened protection and monitoring mechanisms. She stressed that preserving this national asset requires instilling an environmental culture that makes forest protection a shared responsibility and supports integration among public institutions, elected officials, experts, researchers, civil society, and all citizens.

During the meeting, a presentation on the state of national forest wealth and its strategic importance was delivered, during which challenges of forest protection and sustainability were discussed, along with issues of environmental security, prevention of forest risks, ways to enhance forest resources, their role in sustainable development, and prospects for cooperation and partnership in forest protection.

National Office of Forests and Water strengthens efforts to protect the endangered Houbara bustard

Rabat -- The National Office of Forests and Water (ONCF) announced the implementation of a program to conserve the Houbara bustard (Turnix sylvaticus sylvaticus) outside its natural habitat, aiming to contribute to the protection of this subspecies and enhance conservation efforts in Morocco.

The Office stated in a press release that the program combines monitoring and tracking of wild populations of