Abdelaziz Babqiqi: Director of the Observatory of the Environment and Durable Development of Marrakech

Q:Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?

A:My name is Abdelaziz Babqiqi. I am a graduate engineer of the Ecole Hassania des Traveaux Public. I have also another diploma of engineering from the Ecole National de La Meteorologie and a Master degree from Paul Sabatier University in France. I have worked for different organisations on environmental issues before joining the Department of the Environment.

Q:How was this Observatory created?

A:At the national level we have different conventions according to the regions of Morocco, which were signed in front of His Majesty Mohamed VI on April 14th, 2009. These conventions are related to different themes in the field of the environment such as green spaces and waste management, but there is also another convention which is related to the creation of Regional Observatories of the Environment and Durable Development. This convention has now come into effect by the creation of the first regional observatory which is this one of Marrakech. It was created a month ago and has the main mission of implementing the National Charter of the Environment. The Observatory covers all the region of Marrakech Tensift al Haouz that includes the provinces of Marrakech, Essaouira, Chichaoua, Kelaa Sraghna, Al Haouz and Rhamna which has been recently created.

Q:There is an ambitious project in the province of Rhamna called the Green City Mohammed VI. Is the Observatory involved in that?

A:Yes, we are involved in this project which, as you said, is a very ambitious one in that it would the first city of its kind in the African continent. The project is in the framework of the convention on green spaces which involves different partners notably the OCP, the Wilaya, and the Department of the Environment.

Q:How are the programmes of waste management and recycling in Marrakech evolving?

A:We are now working on the project of waste management particularly in the city of Marrakech. We are aware of the dangers of the current landfill which exists west of Marrakech and we are working hard so that it will be closed. There will be another controlled landfill in another location which respects the international norms of waste management systems.

Q:What partnerships have you developed at the international level?

A: The Department of the Environment has several bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The Observatory of Marrakech has also a very important partnership with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on the same subject. We are working on activities to benefit associations and rural and urban schools which we would like to sensitise on the issue of climate change and develop a programme of adaptation.

Q:Have you done any awareness campaigns on this issue?

A:Yes, we have already done some awareness campaigns on our own in the High Atlas region, but we encourage NGOs to collaborate with us. Each year, the Department of the Environment has a call for application to design and implement communications campaigns for which the Department would provide financial support.

Q:There are two Departments in the government which are in charge of Water. Does the Department of the Environment also take care of water resources?

A:The Department of the Environment is concerned by anything environmental. For water, our mission lies in the management of the quality of water and we have a project of decontamination and cleaning up of water, in the same way as we intervene in transport pollution. So, although there is a Ministry of Equipment and Transport we collaborate with this government body. The missions of the Department of Environment are transversal in that we work with all the stakeholders for the protection of the environment.

Q:What is the main project that the Observatory is currently working on?

A:We are now preparing for the Earth Day. There will be several events and conferences which will take place in parallel with the Earth Day. Most important of these is the launch of the National Charter of the Environment which was called for its launch by HM King Mohammed VI in his last speech on the occasion of the celebration of the Throne. The launch of the charter will adopt the participatory approach in that researchers, NGOs, government bodies, and all components of the society are invited to cooperate and have their say on this project.