The Moroccan government has officially announced the launch of a project to establish and expand a military academy complex in the commune of Manzah, located in the prefecture of Skhirat-Témara. This follows the issuance of two decrees in the official gazette that separate plots of land from the Mkhinza forest and incorporate them into state property.
The first decree, numbered 2.25.142 and dated March 20, 2025, stipulates the separation of a plot of 18.6 hectares from the forested state land, while the second decree, numbered 2.25.143 and issued on the same day, details the separation of a second plot spanning two hectares. Both plots belong to the Mkhinza forest and are registered under real estate number 38/54884, and they will be utilized for the creation and expansion of the military complex.
The estimated financial value for the first plot is 5,580,000 dirhams, while the price of the second plot is set at 600,000 dirhams. The ministry delegated to the head of government, responsible for national defense management, will transfer the aforementioned amounts to the state property reinvestment fund, within the budget allocated for land acquisition for reforestation.
Both decrees were signed by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water, and Forests, the Minister of Interior, and the Minister of Economy and Finance, along with the ministry responsible for national defense management, assigning each sector to execute its respective responsibilities.
This project aims to strengthen the infrastructure of military institutions by consolidating their components at a single location to facilitate training and coordination. However, the choice of a site within a forest area raises questions about its impact on the local environment and the availability of environmental impact assessments, especially given the significance of the Mkhinza forest as a natural lung for the region.
