As part of its efforts under the global Act30 initiative, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), through its Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med), organised on 28-30 April 2022 workshop in Rabat to support Morocco’s implementation of Target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This target calls for the effective conservation of at least 30% of land and marine areas by 2030. 

The three-day workshop served as a platform for strategic dialogue and technical collaboration, focusing on two key IUCN initiatives: the Green List and Act30. It brought together representatives from the Agence Nationale des Eaux et Forêts (ANEF), and from seven of the country’s national parks, alongside IUCN experts from the Mediterranean and global office and one expert from WWF North Africa.

IUCN Med

Representatives from the Agence Nationale des Eaux et Forêts and from seven of the country’s national parks participated at the workshop organised by IUCN Med

The first part of the workshop focused on training and capacity building through the IUCN Green List programme, conducted over the course of three days. These sessions provided a refresher on the Green List Standard and a self-assessment exercise for protected area staff from Parc National d’Ifrane, Toubkal, Tazekka, Talassemtane, Souss Massa, Haut Atlas Oriental, and Khénifra. The exercise helped participants identify gaps in their current management approaches and prioritize areas for improvement. Emphasis was placed on the importance of evidence-based evaluation, adaptive and future-oriented planning, and the integration of cultural values and ecosystem services into site management. The session also encouraged the exchange of good practices across sites and highlighted the need for enhanced financial support to achieve Target 3.

Target 3: effectively conserve and manage 30% of land, waters, and sea

The second segment of the workshop focused on Morocco’s engagement with the Act30 initiative. ANEF and IUCN Med held discussions to identify priority conservation actions that could be initiated this year with support from the Moroccan government. One of the key outcomes was a shared commitment to analysing connectivity across the country’s protected and conserved areas network.

Both discussions underlined the need to promote equitable and effective management by incorporating climate change adaptation, socio-economic analyses, and ecosystem service assessments into planning and governance frameworks. These strategic reflections set the foundation for defining a short-term action plan under Act30 and exploring long-term collaboration to advance Morocco’s implementation of Target 3 under the Green list framework.

With strong institutional engagement from national park authorities and ANEF, and technical support from IUCN and WWF North Africa, Morocco is taking tangible steps toward a more connected, inclusive, and resilient protected areas network.