The RESCOM project is expanding its activities in Morocco with the inclusion of a new pilot site: Bouhachem Natural Park. Established in May 2025 in the Rif region, located in...
Read moreSurface area:
105,000 hectares
Key features
Bouhachem Natural Park is renowned for its remarkable forest ecosystems, featuring Atlas cedars, oak woodlands (including cork, holm, zeen, and Pyrenean oaks), Maghreb pines, and thuya trees. This exceptional biodiversity provides habitat for iconic species such as the Barbary macaque and the Barbary deer. The massif includes
as well as wetlands and a rich cultural heritage. It provides numerous ecosystem services: water regulation, erosion control, carbon sequestration, pastoral and forest resources, as well as significant potential for ecotourism and education.
Main threats and pressures
- Overgrazing and pressure on forest resources
- Soil erosion and alteration of the hydrological regime
- Fires and habitat degradation
- Unsustainable use of natural resources
- Climate change impacts (increasing drought conditions)
- Vulnerability of wetlands and temporary ponds
- Fragmentation of natural habitats
About the project
Objectives
Priority areas
Multi-ecosystem approach
Expected impacts
Objectives
Aligned with the “Forests of Morocco 2020–2030” strategy implemented by the ANEF, the RESCOM project aims to enhance the conservation and restoration of Bouhachem’s forest and wetland ecosystems through an integrated, participatory approach. The project also seeks to expand knowledge, test nature-based solutions, and promote practices that balance biodiversity conservation with sustainable benefits for local communities.
Priority areas
The priority actions identified focus on the participatory restoration of a fire-affected forest plot in accordance with the international standards of the Society for Ecological Restoration Europe. As the first pilot site in North Africa to implement this methodology, the area will undergo assisted regeneration through the planting of cork oak, Zeen oak, and other native species valued by local communities, including bay laurel and carob. These efforts will contribute to the restoration of habitat for the Barbary macaque, an endangered species endemic to North Africa.
The project also includes the inventory and characterization of the Park’s wetlands, as well as awareness-raising activities aimed at fostering local communities’ engagement with and stewardship of the new natural park.
Multi-ecosystem approach
The project takes an integrated approach combining forests, wetlands, soils, and land use to better account for ecological interactions at the landscape scale. The actions undertaken include restoring ponds and wetlands, enhancing forest habitats, and working with local stakeholders on management practices. This approach promotes ecosystem resilience to climate change, improves water availability, and strengthens the coherence of conservation efforts. Collaboration among institutions, experts, and local stakeholders is a central component of the initiative.
Expected impacts
- Contribute to improving the conservation status of natural habitats and associated species, in particular by enhancing the ecological functionality of wetlands and forests.
- Promote better management of natural resources, limit erosion, and enhance the region’s ability to adapt to climate change.
- Conserve water resources, maintain ecosystem services, develop more sustainable practices, and promote natural heritage.