Mohamed El Mazi

In the Middle Atlas region of Morocco, the expansion of irrigated agriculture has led to escalating pressure on groundwater resources, particularly in the Dayet Aoua watersheda zone experiencing both hydrological vulnerability and socio-economic transformation. This study explored how well-owning farmers perceive and manage groundwater in a context marked by increasing resource scarcity, institutional gaps, and climate variability. Based on a structured survey of 80 farmers and supported by statistical analysis, including chi-square tests, the research examined the technical characteristics of wells, water use practices, and farmers’ awareness of groundwater over-exploitation. The findings reveal a significant disconnect between widespread recognition of groundwater as a limited resource (over 90%) and the persistence of unsustainable extraction behaviours, driven by economic dependence, energy subsidies, and the absence of regulatory enforcement. Furthermore, the study identifies socio-technical inequalities in access to groundwater infrastructure and highlights the influence of infrastructure type on farmers' perceptions. The results underscore the need for integrated, participatory groundwater governance that accounts for local knowledge, institutional shortcomings, and differentiated user capacities. By linking perceptions to practice, this study contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable water resource management in semi-arid agricultural systems.

Land degradation is a worldwide phenomenon that negatively affects the topsoil of agricultural land. The Mediterranean region is the hardest hit by this phenomenon, which is set to increase due to climate change. This study aims to assess the susceptibility of land to degradation under climate change, based on the calculation of the Land Degradation Sensitivity Index (LDI) in the upstream Ouergha catchment in in Northern Morocco (Southern Mediterranean), using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDM) method. In this study, 4 main criteria (climate, vegetation, soil and human environment) divided into 15 sub-criteria were used to assess soil sensitivity to degradation. The weight of each criterion was assigned using the AHP method. The degree of soil degradation was classified on a map based on four categories (low, moderate, high and critical). About 14.9% of land is not very sensitive to degradation, while 37.2% of land is highly sensitive to degradation. Vegetation and climate were identified as the main drivers of land degradation (37% and 28% respectively). Climate scenarios for model EC-Earth3-Veg (CMIP6) indicate a significant drop in precipitation in this region, which accelerates soil degradation. The result represents a planning tool that can help decision-makers to take the necessary measures to ensure sustainable soil management in the face of climate change

Soil degradation is a global phenomenon affecting the productivity of agricultural land. Due to the low vegetation cover and the aggressive climate, Morocco presents a significant case of soil degradation through erosion and desertification. The Ouergha catchment is highly vulnerable to this scourge. The objective of this study was to assess the sensitivity of land to degradation in the Ouergha catchment area. The MEDALUS approach, widely used in the Mediterranean region, was used to assess the sensitivity of soils to degradation/desertification. This approach integrates four indicators that strongly influence this phenomenon (climate, soil, vegetation and human pressure). The results show that more than half of the study area has a medium sensitivity of land to degradation. The critical areas represent 16.2% and correspond to bare land characterized by steep slopes and absence of vegetation. Low sensitivity areas occupy a limited proportion of 21.9% and correspond to wet summits and conserved forest areas. Climate change could lead to a further increase in areas susceptible to degradation.