On a bare plateau within the High Atlas Mountains of Southern Morocco lies the city of Ouarzazate. Despite it being a major hub for tourism, Ouarzazate’s location makes it highly susceptible to desert storms, desertification of land and a loss of biodiversity. In order to combat this, the people of Ouarzazate -with the help from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Korea Forest Service (KFS)- have devised a plan; in essence, the project involved the development of a greenbelt of trees which surrounded the city as well as the greening of drylands with treated wastewater.
In addition to this plan, the city is currently developing a large series of solar panels which involves five different projects, spread over 10,000 hectares and is estimated to be finished around 2020. According to a report by the UNEP, once it is complete contribute the plant will “contribute 18 per cent to Morocco’s annual electricity generation. It will save the country 1 million tons of oil equivalent and prevent the emission of 3.7 million tons of CO2.”
In a nutshell, the greenbelt project has planted over 400 hectares of trees which has naturally protected it form several storms. Moreover, this project has empowered the local people with engagement since this meant for the creation of new job opportunities.
Much of the greenbelt has been created as recreational spaces which has also raised community awareness and encouraged public participation. The first showings of this project had generated so much positive change that Ouarzazate’s government decided to launch a second phase. This phase focused more on sparking awareness, creating partnerships and even sharing local experiences to neighboring cities and places around the world. As more and more attention is brought to the city of Ouarzazate’s strides to build a more sustainable future, perhaps they may serve as a shining example for cities all around the world.
“This project will offer a better living environment for the population in Ouarzazate. I am proud of all partners who made it a success. I hope that this project will be a model to control desertification and loss of biodiversity in the world” – H.E. Dongil Park, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea
Sources:
- http://www.unep.org/newscentre/moroccan-city-defies-desertification-harnessing-solar-power-and-treated-wastewater
- https://www.mygreenpod.com/articles/moroccos-solar-plans/
- http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/08/africa/ouarzazate-morocco-solar-plant/index.html
Principles of Urban Sustainability 
I have never heard of Ouarzazate! I think we forget about deserts, drylands and desert storms very often, and I’m glad you highlighted this! I would love to hear about the local experience.
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I think it’s great that you’re looking an non-American cities. It important to think about different environments and cultures when implementing sustainable policies.
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This idea of solar panels is fantastic. It helps the local landscape and provides energy. I think solutions like this could be brought over to the US southwest.
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The open, desert conditions of the area really help to promote the use of solar panels. This idea is something that should have been done year ago but some progress is better than no progress. It is also good to see that countries and even some companies are finally looking to clean, renewable energy sources. Even a company such as Exxon Mobil, a notorious oil company is investing $1 billion a year on green energy.
https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2017-11-03/exxon-is-spending-1-billion-a-year-to-research-green-energy
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Thanks for sharing! I really enjoyed learning about these projects. I visited Morocco earlier this year and Ouarzazate was one of the places I experienced. It’s a beautiful land. It’s amazing that solar panel projects are projected to contribute almost 20% of the country’s electricity as well as reduce so much use of oil and reduce carbon emissions. Wouldn’t it be amazing if one of our more desert states, like Arizona, followed this example and attempted a project along the same scale?
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The use of solar panels in an area like this is incredible. Also, the green belt project sounds fascinating. Using trees in order to help protect the area as well as making it a hub for public participation is a really neat idea.
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