Ecological restoration is a suitable tool to revert land degradation in semiarid areas. Social participation is increasingly considered as a guarantee for the long-term success and sustainability of restoration projects. In rural areas of North African countries, experiences of participatory restoration are still not frequent, and poverty and illiteracy with top-down approaches boost land-use conflicts and raise skepticism toward restoration programs. We developed a framework for forest restoration based on knowledge share, trust, and active stakeholder participation in all restoration steps. The framework was tested through a demonstrative project aimed at restoring Tetraclinis articulata forests in a semiarid area of North Morocco, in which scientists, managers, and local stakeholders were involved in all steps of the restoration process: identification of restoration priorities, assessment of land-use options, definition of the restoration procedure, participatory plantation, evaluation, surveillance, and monitoring. In a 1 ha plot, 250 plants were planted by 90 participants in a spirit of knowledge exchange, mutual aid, environmental education, and social solidarity. After 2 years, the plot remains intact, free of any act of vandalism and grazing, and shows signals of improved ecosystem functioning. A wider application of the proposed framework in current restoration strategies will enhance our understanding of the factors behind social acceptance and support for restoration projects.
"demonstrative project of Participatory Ecological Restoration of Béni Boufrah Forests (RESEP2B, 2013–2015). The workshop concluded by unanimously agreeing on a restoration action based on a partic- ipatory plantation of Tetraclinis and other woody species char- acteristic of the Tetraclinis woodlands in a demonstrative plot. Due to seedling stock constraints, only seedlings of Tetraclinis and Pistacia lentiscus L. were nally planted. a south-facing plot of 1 ha located downstream of the catchment (Fig. 2) and highly visible from Béni Boufrah main road. In the eld, participatory planting was carried out by 90 stake- holders (57 men and 33 women), including 55 students, 3 managers, 15 collaborators, and 17 direct users (with only one farmer living near the plot), under the guidance of per- sonnel from the six partners of the project."
Climate change impacts | Effect of Nbs on CCI | Effect measures |
---|---|---|
Freshwater flooding | Positive | Soil Erosion/Freshwater flooding: [positive] Same measures for both, not quantified but deduced from interviews and focus groups on stakeholder perceptions “Respondents also mentioned a wide range of ecosystem services provided by restored forest areas, including services linked to the most critical local problem: erosion and flood control.” |
Soil erosion | Positive | Soil Erosion/Freshwater flooding: [positive] Same measures for both, not quantified but deduced from interviews and focus groups on stakeholder perceptions “Respondents also mentioned a wide range of ecosystem services provided by restored forest areas, including services linked to the most critical local problem: erosion and flood control.” |
Our work was conducted at Béni Boufrah area (34∘58′ –35∘10′N; 4∘14′ –4∘25′W), a 163 km2 valley located in Al Hoceima province (North Morocco)...a south-facing plot of 1 ha located downstream of the catchment (Fig. 2) and highly visible from Béni Boufrah main road.