Rabat: Bolstering the strategic partnership in the forestry sector was the focus of talks held Monday in Rabat between Director General of Morocco’s National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) Abderrahim Houmy and French Minister Delegate for Francophonie, International Partnerships, and French Nationals Abroad ‰l©onore Caroit.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, this meeting is part of the momentum of excellent ties between the two countries, driven by a historic, strategic, and multidimensional partnership based on mutual trust, reciprocal respect, and a shared vision regarding major environmental, climate, and sustainable development challenges.
On this occasion, the two officials praised the quality and depth of Moroccan-French cooperation in the forestry sector, marked for over three decades by the implementation of transformative programs covering strategic areas such as the sustainable management of protected areas, safeguarding biodiversity, reforestation, the health and resilience of forest ecosystems, managing urban and peri-urban forests, adapting to climate change, and monitoring and enhancing forest resources.
Houmy told the press that this meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the positive results of the “highly diversified” cooperation programs between the two countries in the forestry sector, noting that these include reforestation, watershed management, national parks, forest health, and wildfires, as well as adaptation to climate change.
For her part, Caroit stated that her visit to Morocco aims “to boost our partnerships, particularly in the fight against forest fires, but also in all matters related to reforestation and forests in general.”
“These are partnerships that make a difference, that protect communities, and that align with national development without forcing a choice between sustainable development, development, adaptation to climate change, and economic growth,” the French official stated.
On the sidelines of these meetings, the French minister and her accompanying delegation visited the Forest Fire Management Center and learned about the missions and operations of this strategic facility dedicated to the monitoring, prevention, and suppression of forest fires.
According to a press release from ANEF, discussions also highlighted, among others, the strategic importance of the “Ghabati Hayati – My Forest, My Life,” funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) to the tune of 103 million euros, as the first major international cooperation initiative to support the implementation of the “Forests of Morocco 2020-2030” strategy.
As part of the “Al Ard Al Khadraa – Green Land” program, the Twinning project led by ANEF, with support from the EU, serves as a key driver for institutional and technical partnerships, fostering the collaborative development of innovative solutions tailored to on-the-ground realities.
In this regard, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting ambitious South-South cooperation, particularly with the African continent, based on building on successful experiences, sharing best practices, and joint efforts to support the sustainable management of natural resources.
“A high-level exchange visit by ANEF officials to France will be organized in June 2026 to bolster technical cooperation, strengthen institutional partnerships, and open new avenues for collaboration between the two countries to address forestry, environmental, and climate challenges,” the press release notes.