Morocco/Laâyoune: Meeting to draw up regional coastal plan

A meeting was held on Wednesday in Laâyoune to present the results of the first mission of the study on the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra regional coastal plan (SRL), carried out by the Regional Environment Directorate.

This meeting, part of the implementation of law no. 81-12 on the coastline, provided an opportunity for members of the regional committee for integrated coastal management to take stock of methodological progress and data mobilized, as well as the initial conclusions of the territorial and environmental diagnosis.e du littoral to take stock of methodological advances and data mobilized, as well as the initial conclusions of the territorial and environmental diagnosis.

According to the data presented on this occasion, the first mission made it possible to delimit the perimeter of intervention on land and at sea over a coastal strip.According to the data presented on this occasion, the first mission delimited the terrestrial and marine intervention perimeter over a coastal strip of more than 550 km stretching from Oued El Waâr to Oued Lekraa, encompassing 13 communes, 9 of which are coastal.

It also provided a cartographic database and a multi-criteria diagnosis of environmental pressures such as erosion, marine submersion, silting and water quality.

Participants were also presented with a detailed cartography including 98 maps, 346 illustrations and 176 tables, as well as a socio-economic sensitivity index applied to high-stake areas.

In addition, the preliminary report presented at the meeting incorporated a number of improvements in response to comments made. RAMSAR sites (convention for the protection of wetlands), quantification of discharges into the sea, updating of wastewater treatment plants and harmonization of bathing water quality classification.

The report on this first mission therefore defined the legal and institutional framework, clarified the analysis methodology and made available a unified database and reference maps.es and unified reference maps covering the region's assets and resources, as well as a preliminary diagnosis of pressures and risks.

A second mission is planned to draw up an action plan for the preservation and sustainable development of the region's coastline.

Source: www.mapexpress.ma/