Essaouira A development plan for the island of Mogador

Objective: To classify the protected area Eleonora's falcon, to save the species . The archipelago of Essaouira is composed of two main islands. It includes an old jail, a mosque and old fishermen's houses

The island of Mogador undoubtedly contributes to the charm of Essaouira. Located in the Atlantic Ocean, it is half an hour away from the port. But it remains inaccessible to the public.

This island is home to endangered species, the Eleonora's Falcon. The archipelago is listed since 1980 as a " Permanent Biological Reserve " and since 1996 a "Site of biological and ecological interest" (SIBE). It iwas also declared a "Ramsar" site since 2005, the name of this international convention on Wetlands of International Importance.

Currently, the High Commissioner for Forestry is planning to increase the momentum of the conservation management of the island. By this he means to sustain its protected status by classifying it as protected area, under the new law on protected areas adopted in July 2010. In addition, a new scheme for planning and management direction of the archipelago of Essaouira is taking shape. It would seek to protect its natural and cultural heritage. Field missions, which will provide data to the development plan, have already been conducted. They are listed as part of the Initiative for Small Islands in the Mediterranean (PIM), an international program for the promotion and assistance in the management of micro-island territories coordinated by the Conservatoire du Littoral France.

"At the last sitting of the PIM Initiative, held in France in October 2009, discussions reinforced the idea of cooperation between French and Moroccan authorities to preserve the archipelago of Essaouira," says the High Commissioner for Forestry, and to fight against desertification. Convinced that the archipelago of Essaouira, although on the Atlantic, this ecosystem and species is of importance to the Mediterranean and worldwide, the Conservatoire du Littoral have expressed interest to contribute and share experiences in establishing better management of this territory. So he mobilized a group of experts who made a diagnosis, through the organization of field missions, and established a management document that will serve as the basis for sustainable management of the archipelago.

This new initiative will continue the work started to protect species on the island including the Eleonora's Falcon. Indeed, the creation of the reserve for archipelago was to stop the camping and hunting abuses that prevailed before. Visits are limited on the island which is now attended by only a few local fishermen. The main threat to wildlife of the island lies indeed to projects of tourism development proposed for the site, including hotel locations, links between the main island and the mainland, the establishment of a sound and light.

"Such facilities would lead immediately and irrevocably to the desertion of the site by bird colonies and would deprive the region of a unique treasure," said the High Commission. Vigilance regarding authorizations will remain in order, especially during nesting!

Yacout Info

Wednesday, August 17th 2011