TREE PLANTING IN MOROCCO

Toubkal National Park

FAWCO Millenium Forest Project

A little bit of history: The initial vision for the FAWCO Millennium Forest dates back to 1993, when AIWC Casablanca hosted the annual and AIWCC's Stella Fizazi and FAWCO's Environment Committee Chair, Valerie Garforth, first discussed the possibility of AIWCC sponsoring a tree planting project in rural Morocco.

Working with Peace Corps volunteers and the Moroccan Ministry for Water and Forests, the first tree planting project took place in 1995, when AIWCC donated 3,000 apple trees to the people of the Imilchil region. The Ministry donated pine trees and for each two pine trees the villagers planted, they received one apple tree. This resulted in an initial planting of nearly 10,000 trees.

In 1999, as we approached the Millennium, the FAWCO Environment Committee suggested adopting the title FAWCO Millennium Forest to widen support to FAWCO clubs world wide.

At the 2003 FAWCO conference, the Environment Committee proposed a "carbon neutral conference" initiative and conference delegates now purchase trees to be planted in Morocco (and elsewhere) to offset the CO2 emissions resulting from their travel.

In 2004, with AIWCC and FAWCO support, seven remote villages in the Tafraoute region, in the Atlas Mountains of South West Morocco each received 500 olive trees to plant, which will provide a cash crop. As Donna Sebti of AIWCC explains: "Families there have limited work resources and, as a result, men have to seek work elsewhere to provide for their families, thus leaving women and children behind to eke out a living through small-scale farming, bee-keeping, poultry-raising, etc. Trees provide additional, steady income to residents and food for their consumption while preventing desertification, soil erosion and a decline in biodiversity.
From an article by Valerie Garforth in "FAUSA Quarterly", Volume X, Issue 26, Winter 2005, page 6

There are 100 communities (50,000 people) that neighbor the Toubkal National Park. They have special privilege to cultivate the park land as it was theirs originally. The area covers 38,000 hectares with a 58,000 hectare conservation buffer zone.

People are extremely poor and there is extensive deforestation and only 8% of the land is now forested. The project is to plant 20,000 fruit trees (apple, cherry, plum, pear, apricot, almond and walnut)and 100,000 indigenous forestry trees on the communal lands. In addition the project would like to provide for three fruit tree nurseries to supplement people's income.

During the 2007 Annual FAWCO conference, $350 was collected by selling trees that will go towards the Millennium Forest projects which include those above and future projects.

The city of Casablanca wants to plant 100,000 trees to beautify it and the twin city Chicago/Casablanca project is considering a project to support.

His Majesty King Mohamed VI has recently donated 10,000 olive trees to a rural area outside Marrakech. (olive trees take 4-5 years to produce) The government is pushing for olive trees to produce oil, and carob trees for export (beauty and health products).

Fruit Tree Cultivation, Beni Sohane, Ikhezrabe

To expand economic diversity by planting fruit trees and educating the farmers in their care. 5,000 trees have been requested costing 83,750 Dh ($10,150) with 33,750 Dh ($4100) contributed by the community. AIWCC has already given money for 2000 olive trees.

This community is on the western foothills of the Bou Iblane Mountain Range and the local association has asked for assistance to increase the income of the village farmers and decrease their dependence on traditional crops. The project will plant fruit trees, educate the local farmers on new tree planting and maintenance techniques and assist with reforestation of community lands.. Having an alternative source of income will also decrease dependence on animal grazing which is contributing to the erosion problem. Having fruit trees will also provide an additional nutrition source for the families.

AIWCC tree planting visit

Ten ladies from AIWCC recently made the trip to Ribat el Kheir and the Beni Sohane village, in the province of Sefrou, after an overnight stay in Fez, at Nadia Guessous' lovely ryad. With a little help (!!!), we each planted one tree (there were 1,500 olive trees), and watched as the local population, the gendarmes, the Caid, the Pasha and the President of the rural commune also planted trees. We were given a very warm welcome, many words of gratitude, a fine breakfast and a delicious lunch. This is the Beni Sohane Peace Corps project which has asked for 5,000 fruit trees to be planted. AIWCC was able to provide funding for the 1,500 that were planted.

Special thanks are due to Mr. Mohssine Tadlaoui, Peace Corps Office, Rabat, and to Mr. Mostafa Mouslih, Regional Director of the Water and Forestry Department, for their organization of this event. Also to Peace Corps volunteer Anne Gasper who proposed the project. More trees are required, so please make your donations.

The director of the local junior high school (collège) indicated that they have a 3-year old building with a lovely library, but no books. The director also indicated, when asked, that there are needy students, mostly male, aged from 10 to 16, who walk 20 km to school, and don't have scholarships. Donations of money, clothing and shoes are also welcome. Please contact us if you can help.

Fruit and forest tree planting Tazarine, Eastern High Atlas National Park

It is proposed to plant 7000 apple trees on private fields of 57 households to increase agricultural capacity and 2000 pine trees in a protected area on the outskirts to combat soil erosion. The pine trees will be provided by the Moroccan Water and Forest Commission. This project will strengthen the financial security of the village while offering the people an opportunity for active community participation. The cost of 7000 apple trees is 49,000 Dh ($6,000)

As you can see, there is a lot to be done, so we really need your donations. Each donor to the tree planting program receives a certificate, on the basis of an estimated cost of 50 dirhams (around 5 dollars) per tree.

These certificates also make lovely gifts to commemorate a special occasion or in memory of a loved one.

If you would like to make a donation, click here to get more information and/or reserve your certificate.

To read more about the aims of the Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas (FAWCO) for tree planting and the environment in general, visit the FAWCO web site: www. fawco.org/global_concerns/environment/one_member_one_tree.html.