Leila Benali Launches a Program to Develop Sidi Maaf Forest in Oujda with an Investment of 87 Million Dirhams
Oujda witnessed the signing of a partnership agreement to carry out the natural and recreational development program for Sidi Maaf Forest, overseen by Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of Interior, the Water and Forest Agency, the Eastern Region Council, and the municipalities of Oujda and Ahl Anjad. This agreement reflects the government’s vision to reinforce spatial and environmental justice in line with royal directives.
The minister emphasized that the Eastern Region is a priority in the ministry’s sectoral policies, highlighting the importance of the project in improving the quality of life, protecting the city from the impacts of climate change, especially desertification and dry winds, as well as its role in enhancing biodiversity. The project aims to transform the urban forest into an open environmental and recreational space for the residents of Oujda.
The agreement stipulates a financial allocation of 87 million dirhams over three years, divided into three main axes: afforestation and renewal of the forest cover over an area exceeding 1,300 hectares, the establishment of recreational and sports facilities such as walking trails and neighborhood playgrounds, and improving the environmental infrastructure through small dams, drainage channels, and irrigation equipment.
The project will be implemented by the Water and Forest Agency as the primary project owner, alongside the Eastern Region Council and the municipality of Oujda, in coordination with the local development company “Oujda for Life,” which will manage the remaining works. Oversight will be assigned to a committee chaired by the Wali of the Eastern Region, comprising all stakeholders to ensure coordination and progress of the works.
Leila Benali stressed that the project represents a new model of environmental territorial management based on collaboration among institutions and translates the objectives of the National Charter for the Environment and Sustainable Development. The ministry will support various phases of the project financially, technically, and institutionally.
This initiative falls within the “Morocco Forests 2020-2030” strategy and represents a significant addition to the environmental transformation journey in the Eastern Region, particularly regarding the expansion of green spaces and open facilities, aligning with sustainable development goals and improving urban quality of life.
