The National Park of Toubkal

The NPT contains the highest rate of endemism in Morocco in terms of flora, characterized by the presence of 23 species strictly endemic to the National Park of Toubkal.

NPT wildlife is also a strong element of the landscape. The diversity of environments is the source of the diversity of fauna species. The NPT is distinguished mainly by the presence of the largest population of the North African Mouflon. This specie has been protected, particularly through the establishment of the Zoological Reserve of Takherkhort (RZT) in 1969.

The breeding avifauna includes about 95 species, with the presence of birds knows as the Golden Eagle, bearded vulture, Bonelli's Eagle, the Circaète John the White, Alpine Accentor, etc..

One of the strengths of individuals PNTb is the existence of a unique cultural heritage, a culture characterized by typical Berber mountain (traditional building heritage, agricultural and pastoral amenities), but also the presence of rock engravings dating from 2000 BC.

The Directorate of the National Park of Toubkal at the Department of Water and Forestry is now working on three missions to protect and promote the NPT:

Conservation of mountain biodiversity and development of scientific research

• Maintain and rehabilitate natural ecosystems characteristics of Central High Atlas;
• Protect and promote the species of the area by a rare or endangered wildlife;
• Facilitate and contribute to the development of scientific research and ecological monitoring, the NPT is indeed both a scientific laboratory and an observatory on the mountain, surrounded by a very interesting nature for basic and applied research;
• Contribute to the preservation of representative elements of the cultural heritage of the area: rock carvings, traditional architecture, traditional operating systems (terracing, transhumance, folklore, etc.).

Socio-economic support and contribution to sustainable development in the region

'Space Park" has many socio-economic services, such as firewood, fodder, medicinal and aromatic plants, etc.. It is in this sense that it is a very important tool for promoting sustainable development through sustainable management and partnership of natural resources. The eventual aim is to reverse the degradation process (purpose of the millennium sustainable development goal).

This amounts to contribute to the fight against poverty and rural exodus through:
• The synergy of actions and actors of development in the area of the NPT;
•The diversification of income sources through rational exploitation and enhancement of natural resources.
•The concerted management of natural resources.
The Toubkal National Park also offers an unrivalled potential for development of mountain tourism. This "Nature–Culture” capital is the foundation for the development of sustainable tourism, and therefore a great way of enhancing the park, which would thus contribute to sustainable economic development in the region.

The approach adopted by the PNTb for tourism is:

•Support the development of appropriate tourist facilities and materialize the park on the ground;
•Support the development of product "ecotourism" products;
•Develop a plan for sustainable tourism development PNTb;
•Mobilize and involve stakeholders and professionals in tourism about the "National Park of Toubkal product”.

Awareness and Education on the Environment

This mission is facilitated by the fact that the National Park of Toubkal constitutes an important basic technique in Education on the Environment. Indeed, it offers plenty of opportunities of educational resources such as forests, wetlands (Lake Ifni, rivers), snow, reservations (Mouflon, Gazelle) and infrastructure (Eco-museum information centres, thematic circuits).