IUCN National Committee of Morocco takes a new step forward in its development

The IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med) and the IUCN National Committee of Morocco held an online working meeting on 23 June to review the progress achieved over the past two years, identify new opportunities for collaboration, and jointly prepare for upcoming international milestones, particularly the IUCN World Congress on Protected and Conserved Areas, which will take place in Panama in September 2027.

The meeting brought together representatives of IUCN Med and several members of the Moroccan National Committee in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation aimed at strengthening the role of the IUCN network in Morocco and increasing the visibility of initiatives supporting nature conservation.

A particularly significant milestone was announced during the meeting: the Moroccan National Committee has recently obtained legal status as an association officially recognised by the Moroccan authorities. This marks a major step forward in strengthening its institutional capacity and expanding its impact.

One of the highlights of the meeting was a presentation by Mr Brahim Haddane, President of the Moroccan National Committee, on the main achievements of the Committee’s institutional strengthening project, implemented with financial support from IUCN Med.

Over the past two years, the Committee has reached several important milestones that now enable it to play a more active role within Morocco’s environmental landscape. Key achievements include the development of a strategic vision and a 2030 action plan, the revision of the Committee’s statutes, the adoption of a governance charter, and the preparation of internal regulations.

The project has also helped increase member engagement through a series of national and regional workshops held across different regions of Morocco. These meetings have expanded the Committee’s network, strengthened exchanges among experts, and increased awareness of its role among public institutions, universities, civil society organisations and local authorities.

The Committee now comprises 17 members and is gaining increasing recognition as a network of expertise supporting biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

“This project has created new momentum among Committee members and laid the foundations needed to strengthen our work in the years ahead,” said Brahim Haddane, President of the Moroccan National Committee.

Raising the profile of Members’ initiatives

The meeting also provided an opportunity to explore ways of strengthening communication between IUCN Med and the Moroccan National Committee.

A presentation of IUCN Med’s communication tools highlighted the importance of increasing the visibility of Members’ initiatives, field projects and successful conservation experiences across Morocco.

Participants identified several avenues for collaboration, including publishing articles in the Members Stories section of the IUCN Med website, sharing content through social media channels, contributing to regional newsletters, and promoting field experiences and success stories from Members.

To facilitate this cooperation, the Moroccan National Committee agreed to appoint a communications focal point. This person will coordinate with the IUCN Med communications team to identify, collect and disseminate information on Members’ activities and field results.

Looking ahead to the IUCN World Congress on Protected and Conserved Areas

The final part of the meeting focused on preparations for the IUCN World Congress on Protected and Conserved Areas, which will take place in Panama from 4 to 10 September 2027.

Maher Mahjoub, Director of IUCN Med, presented the main objectives of this global event, which will bring together governments, experts, civil society organisations, Indigenous Peoples and protected area managers from around the world.

Discussions highlighted the importance of ensuring a strong Moroccan voice at this international gathering.

Participants emphasised the need to showcase Morocco’s experience in protected area governance, marine conservation, ecosystem restoration, Nature-based Solutions and community participation.

Several speakers also stressed the importance of amplifying the perspectives of countries from the southern Mediterranean and the African continent in international conservation discussions.

With this in mind, the Moroccan National Committee plans to undertake a collective process over the coming months to identify key priorities, document field experiences, and develop a shared position that reflects Morocco’s realities, challenges and opportunities.

Strengthening cooperation for the future

At the close of the meeting, participants expressed their shared commitment to maintaining regular dialogue through periodic meetings and developing new joint initiatives.

Among the ideas discussed were organising webinars involving several Mediterranean National Committees, facilitating the exchange of good practices among IUCN Members, and developing joint communication initiatives around key conservation challenges.

This renewed momentum reflects the shared commitment of IUCN Med and the Moroccan National Committee to strengthen collective action for nature conservation in Morocco and across the Mediterranean region.

Links 

Website :  Comité Marocain de l'UICN