«The Palm of the Oasis 06» TERRITORIAL SUSTAINABILITY – Between Negligence, Irresponsibility, and Shortcomings in Territorial Comprehension

Morocco is characterized by its vastness, both literally and figuratively, yet it suffers from the very distinction it has managed to carve out for itself. Under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco has successfully set itself apart from the grip of globalism, which in recent decades has abused its regulatory power, pushing our world into an uncontrolled geopolitical situation—one that is, to say the least, risky and on the verge of becoming unmanageable.

In this context, Morocco, through a firmly sovereign approach, has:

• Reconnected with Africa through South-South cooperation,
• Maintained global relations in all directions,
• Achieved remarkable projects on a global scale!

For instance, results can be seen in:

• Renewable energy, with wind, solar, and more recently, hydrogen power,
• Port management, with Tanger Med 1-2 and its expansions ranking among the world’s TOP 20 and as the No. 1 port in the Mediterranean,
• The Africa-Atlantic-Morocco Gas Pipeline project, with its first phase linking Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, and Morocco, alongside the Atlantic Port of Dakhla and the growing Atlantic Africa movement,
• The industrial emergence in the automotive and aviation sectors—though this list is far from exhaustive!

Of course, we must also acknowledge the national pride generated by the Moroccan football team’s achievements in Qatar, which contributed to Morocco securing the organization of CAN 2025 and co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup with Portugal and Spain.

Moreover, considering the various successes in mineral exploration, territorial development, and undeniable diplomatic achievements concerning the Moroccan Sahara, we must also highlight the resilience of the tourism sector. Morocco has ascended to the TOP 3 in the Mediterranean and the TOP 20 globally, attracting 17 million visitors projected for 2024!

And yet!!! While it was once common to say that Moroccan growth depended on rainfall, it is now imperative to recognize the failure to adapt and/or address critical issues related to climate change and the resulting water stress, rather than focusing solely on intensive agricultural exploitation.

Territorial imbalances continue to worsen due to delays in implementing advanced regionalization. Moreover, there is a failure to address the stark disparity between commitments concentrated on urban development and the neglect—or outright rejection—of rural development, which is already a recognized challenge. This, in turn, exacerbates future issues related to water management, rural exodus, employment, and the ensuing socio-economic consequences.

A new paradigm urgently needs to be applied to address these structural disruptions in vernacular sustainability that define rural areas and, more specifically, the oases!

It is high time to acknowledge these dysfunctions, which stem from outdated development strategies that fail to consider the disruptive changes brought about by fundamental eco-social transformations. Many regional and local officials continue to disregard these pressing issues!

There is a clear lack of dialogue, as well as a failure to conduct impact studies and consider the appeals of grassroots actors in rural and oasis regions. No effort is made to structure these areas through inclusive, integrative projects that create local employment opportunities! The initiatives taken are limited to provincial and local training programs that are not adapted to the territories. By their very nature, these programs push rural youth toward inevitable urban migration.

There is a blatant lack of imagination in devising necessary adaptations to ensure inclusive and integrated local agricultural, rural, industrial, and mining development. This is crucial for regulating rural growth over the next two to three decades, allowing urban Morocco the time needed to meet future employment demands resulting from rural exodus.

The Perma-enterprise could be one of the suitable solutions,

supported by well-adapted clusters catering to a vast, lucrative market!

Likewise, strengthening the resilience of national tourism must take into account the urgent needs of the middle class. This requires integrating the informal sector into territorial tourism development models. After all, « one creates their clientele rather than being subjected to or dependent on external markets », all while respecting and preserving both traditional and emerging professions.

The same applies to territorial risk management, which demands inclusive and integrated solutions for vernacular housing, rural water management, and the transition of agriculture, arboriculture, and apiculture. Human-centered territorial integration must be recognized as an essential prerequisite for urban evolution and its regional hinterlands.

This is also true in the urgent need to find balance in water resource management—whether for coastal, seaside, or rural areas. Immediate impact studies are necessary, as large-scale desalination projects could severely disrupt coastal fishing industries by destroying marine flora and fauna, with saline discharge volumes projected to reach billions of cubic meters annually!

It is already evident: Safi’s sardines are now in Côte d’Ivoire!

The lack of political and technocratic will—both at regional and local levels—to fully grasp these well-known issues (as well as a clear deficiency in imagination) seriously threatens Morocco’s aforementioned progress!

All sustainable action plans depend on a shared and inclusive understanding in order to be genuinely supported and successfully implemented.

Patrick SIMON – March 8, 2025 – The Palm of the Oasis