African Centre for Technology Studies Harnessing Science, Technology and Innovation for Development June 2015 RESPONSIBLE NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMY PROGRAMME ISSUE PAPER 004/2015 A Circular Economy Approach to Agro-Biodiversity Conservation in the Souss Massa Region of Morocco: Project Case-Study Moha Haddouch Series Editors Dr. Joël Houdet Dr. Cosmas Ochieng African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) Responsible Natural Resource Economy Series no. 004/2015 Series Editors Dr. Joël Houdet African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) Dr. Cosmas Ochieng African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) Responsible Natural Resource Economy Issue Paper Series 1. State of Environment Rapid Assessment (SoERA): Development of a Tool for Framing and Managing Urban Environmental and Social Challenges 2. Foreign Investment in Land and Corporate Social Responsibility: An Investigation for Africa 3. Balancing Extractive Activities and Biodiversity Conservation in the Congo Basin: Opportunities for Green Growth 4. A circular economy approach to agro-biodiversity conservation in the Souss Massa region of Morocco : Project case-study A Circular Economy Approach to Agro-biodiversity Conservation in the Souss Massa Region of Morocco: Project Case-study Moha Haddouch Project National Coordinator, UNDP 2015 Moha Haddouch ©All rights reserved. Sections of this material may be reproduced for personal and not-for-profit use without the express written permission of but with acknowledgement to ACTS. To reproduce the material contained herein for profit or commercial use requires express written permission. To obtain permission, contact the Executive Director at: [email protected] ACTS Special Issue Papers are circulated in order to stimulate or to inform policy debate on critical issues. They have been reviewed by the ACTS’ Publication Review Committee. They represent the views of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views ofACTS. Published in Kenya in 2015 by Acts Press, P.O. Box 45917, 00100, Nairobi Kenya United Nations Avenue, Gigiri Court 49 Tel: +254 20 712 68 94/95; +254 710 60 72 10 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.acts-net.org Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A Circular Economy Approach to Agro-Biodiversity Conservation in the Souss Massa Region of Morocco: Project Case-Study/ Moha Haddouch.—Nairobi, Kenya : Acts Press, 2015 (African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) Responsible Natural Resource Economy Programme Issue Paper 004/2015) ISBN 9966-41-173-9 4 A Circular Economy Approach to Agro-Biodiversity Conservation in the Souss Massa Region of Morocco Table of Contents Abstract 6 1. Introduction 7 2. Methodology 8 2.1 The circular economy approach 8 2.2 The ecosystem service approach 9 2.3 Enabling Institutions and Regulations 9 2.4 Adopted approach to ecosystem services valuation 12 3. Overview of challenges and potential for PES schemes 13 3.1 Water-related Ecosystem Services 13 3.1.1 Guerdan water irrigation project 13 3.1.2 Alternative sources of water: Desalination and Irrigation Project in the Chtouka area 14 3.2 Energy-related ecosystem services 14 3.2.1 Sustainably managing village groves 15 3.3 Biodiversity -related PES 16 3.3.1 PES Scheme for grazing set-asides 16 3.3.2 Bee pollination as an Ecosystem Service 16 3.4 Eco certification-related Ecosystem Services 16 3.4.1 Certifying Argan oil production 17 3.4.2 Certifying honey production 17 3.4.3 Certification for ecosystem services 17 3.5 Cultural and natural related Ecosystem Services 18 3.5.1 Souss-Massa National Park (SMNP) 18 3.5.2 Ecotourism PES model 18 4. Overview of potential market-based instruments and 19 Way forward 19 Acknowledgement 19 References 20 5 Moha Haddouch Abstract The article discusses the prospects of the Argan (Argana spinosa) Biosphere reserve conservation under the scope of the 2012 National Charter for Environment and Sustainable Development. The rate of degradation of the Argan ecosystem and the unfair benefit sharing along the value chain of local products continues to threaten social well being of the rural populations that live within the Argan ecosystem. To address this disequilibrium, a project endorsed by the GEF and supervised by UNDP is being implemented by the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture and Fishing. The project aims at introducing the circular economy approach through Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), as a market based instrument, in order to conserve agro-biodiversity and promote local products in the Souss-Massa Drâa Region. Identified pillar products of local and global importance are Argan and honey. This paper discusses the opportunities and challenges related to the development of contractual agreements between the rights holders and end users of ecosystem services. 6 A Circular Economy Approach to Agro-Biodiversity Conservation in the Souss Massa Region of Morocco 1. Introduction Morocco is the 2nd largest biodiversity hotspot in the Mediterranean region with 31.000 flora and fauna species, its 9 million hectares of forests cover are what used to be once part of one of the world’s most dense forests with emblematic species of worldwide importance such as Cedar (Cedrus Atlanticus) and Argan (Argania Spinosa). The country accounts for 5 ecosystems (forests and steppes, Saharans, marines and coastal, wetlands and caves), 930 endemic plant species, 17 biodiversity corridors, 10 national parks, 3 biosphere reserves and 24 RAMSAR sites. 70% of the country’s surface water is produced in mountainous areas inhabited by 30% of the population (Bergigui, M.F. 2014). To put some numbers on how Morocco is resources dependant, the agricultural added value driven from natural capital represented 19% of Morocco’s GDP in 2013 (Haut Commisseriat au Plan, 2014), while food industry and phosphates accounted for more than 40% of the total exports in 2012 (MEF, 2013). However, the poverty and the vulnerability rates remain high: 14.4% and 23.6% respectively in rural areas (Haut Commisseriat au Plan, 2007). To pave the way towards sustainable development in Morocco, there is a huge need to consider the feedback loop where the natural capital is contributing to economic wealth and national well being. Soil erosion, ground water depletion and pollution, illegal hunting and fishing, deforestation and habitat losses are the main drivers of environmental degradation (UNECE, 2014). Morocco’s ecological footprint increased by 40% and went from 0.94 in 1961 to 1.32 in 2011, and the country is ranked 81st for the Environmental Performance Index (GFN, 2008). Reversing the trend of environmental degradation by rebuilding natural capital is a new option of the Government. Actually, a project entitled: “A Circular Economy Approach to Agro-Biodiversity Conservation in the Souss-Massa Draa Region of Morocco” has recently been launched under the Regional MENARID program Integrated Nature Resources Management in the Middle East and North Africa Region. The project, endorsed by the GEF, in accordance with the UNDP procedures, is intended to strengthen the environmental pioneer programs of the Green Morocco Plan (UNDP morocco, 2014). The Green Morocco Plan The new agricultural strategy, Green Morocco Plan, established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishing, aims to consolidate the successes achieved and to meet new challenges facing Morocco’s competitiveness, opening of markets and mitigating climate change impacts (MAPM ; 2010). At the Souss Massa Draa region, Argan and honey value chains are placed at the forefront priorities of this plan as they are considered to be the main pillars for agro-biodiversity conservation. Therefore, their development is facing the global challenge that needs to be tackled by taking into account the roles of the ecosystem services as they are drawn in the Argan Biosphere Reserve Management Plan (DREFSO, 1999). The Argan Biosphere Reserve (ABR) The Argan ecosystem existed for millennia. Nature and humans managed to maintain a balance between exploitation and regeneration of natural resources. Today, sustainability is not an option anymore, and the Argan ecosystem is facing unprecedented challenges (UNESCO, 2008). 7 Moha Haddouch The Argan ecosystem contributes significantly to regional economics with provisioning services including the globally unique Argan oil, regulating services (soil erosion, air quality, climate and floods), supporting services (photosynthesis, nutrient recycling and pedogenesis), in addition to recreational and cultural services. A recent study concluded that Argan ecosystem contributed to the regional GDP by 6.6% (Benchekroun, F. 2014). Government has certainly managed to overcome deadly obstacles and to support sustainability through the PCDA (Conservation and Development Project of the Argan tree), undertaken by the High Commission for Water, Forests and Combating Desertification (HCEFLCD) and the German Cooperation (GIZ). The joint efforts resulted in the UNESCO label as an Argan Biosphere Reserve (RBA) on December 8th, 1998, the first of its kind in Morocco (DREFSO, 1999). However, with regard to current growth forecasts and development plans drawn to meet the population well being needs and the outlook for natural forest ecosystems remain bleak, leading to a tangible risk of rapid desertification that may render vast tracts of the Souss Massa Draa (SMD) region incompatible with human habitation (UNESCO; 2008) and urgent action is needed to prevent the loss of biodiversity and of critical ecosystem services (Bernecker, K. al, 2008). To overcome this situation, the project’s circular