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| Association Marocaine pour la Protection des Animaux et de la Nature | |
|---|---|
| Name | Association Marocaine pour la Protection des Animaux et de la Nature |
| Native name | Association Marocaine pour la Protection des Animaux et de la Nature |
| Formation | 20th century |
| Headquarters | Rabat |
| Region | Morocco |
| Leader title | President |
Association Marocaine pour la Protection des Animaux et de la Nature is a Moroccan non-governmental organization focused on wildlife conservation, animal welfare, and habitat protection in Morocco. The association operates across urban and rural regions including Rabat, Casablanca, Tétouan, and Agadir, engaging with national institutions such as the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, regional administrations like the Prefecture of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra, and international bodies including the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the World Wildlife Fund. Its activities intersect with subjects ranging from Barbary macaque rehabilitation and Atlantic coastline preservation to advocacy related to Moroccan environmental law and protected areas like the Parc National d'Ifrane.
The association emerged during a period of civil society expansion in post-independence Morocco alongside organizations such as Ligue Marocaine pour la Protection de l'Environnement and Association Marocaine de Solidarité et Développement, influenced by international movements exemplified by Greenpeace and the Sierra Club. Early campaigns referenced legislative frameworks including the Moroccan Code pénal provisions on animal cruelty and conservation measures inspired by treaties like the Convention on Biological Diversity and agreements under the United Nations Environment Programme. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the association collaborated with local research centers such as the Institut National de la Recherche Halieutique and universities like Université Mohammed V to document species status and habitat loss in regions like the High Atlas and Moulouya River basin.
The association's stated mission aligns with principles found in documents of the Council of Europe on biodiversity and with goals of the Sustainable Development Goals promoted by the United Nations. Objectives include protecting native species such as the Barbary lion (extinct in the wild), Barbary macaque, and migratory common crane, preserving ecosystems including the Mediterranean forest and Saharan oases, and influencing policy instruments like the national protected areas network and hunting regulations administered by the Haut-Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts. The association positions itself among Moroccan civil society actors like Amnesty International (Morocco work) and Transparency Maroc in advocating for enforcement of environmental legislation and animal welfare standards.
Programs span animal rescue, anti-poaching patrols, habitat restoration, and veterinary outreach, frequently coordinated with partners such as the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie for enforcement and the Moroccan Red Cross for emergency response. Field projects have targeted nesting sites along the Atlantic flyway, mangrove rehabilitation near the Moulouya Delta, and stray dog population management modeled on practices from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Educational initiatives draw on curricula from institutions like Université Ibn Zohr and museums such as the Musée de Marrakech. The association publishes reports and databases comparable to outputs from the Global Environment Facility and contributes observations to platforms used by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
Governance follows a nonprofit model with a board and executive committee, mirroring structures used by Médecins Sans Frontières and International Fund for Animal Welfare affiliates. Leadership roles—president, treasurer, secretary—interact with municipal councils in Casablanca-Settat and provincial directorates such as the Direction Régionale des Eaux et Forêts. Volunteer coordination relies on networks that include university student chapters at Université Hassan II and conservation professionals trained in centers like the Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II. Internal policies reference standards promoted by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for humanitarian governance and by the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication for outreach.
Funding sources combine donations, grants, membership fees, and project-specific support from entities like the European Union development funds, foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (in broader NGO ecosystems), and bilateral cooperation with countries represented by missions such as the French Development Agency and the German Agency for International Cooperation. Partnerships include collaborations with academic institutions like Université Cadi Ayyad, conservation NGOs such as the Houbara Conservation Foundation, and municipal authorities in cities like Marrakesh. The association has sought corporate sponsorships from Moroccan private sector actors including firms in the OCP Group network and tourism stakeholders operating near sites like Essaouira.
Reported impacts include rescue and rehabilitation statistics for domestic animals, contributions to protected area management plans for sites like the Parc National de Souss-Massa, and influence on policy debates around hunting reforms shepherded by parliamentary committees of the House of Representatives (Morocco). Controversies have arisen over methods for stray animal control compared with international best practices advocated by World Animal Protection, disputes with local pastoralists in the Anti-Atlas regarding grazing restrictions, and critiques from journalists at outlets such as Le Matin about transparency in funding and outcomes. Legal matters have occasionally involved regional courts in Rabat and administrative reviews by the Ministry of Interior.
Public outreach uses campaigns timed with global observances like World Environment Day and International Animal Rights Day, public lectures at venues such as the Bibliothèque Nationale du Royaume du Maroc, and media engagement with broadcasters including RTM and private channels in the 2M TV (Morocco) network. Educational programs target schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports and collaborate with NGOs active in youth mobilization like Bayti. Training workshops for veterinarians reference curricula from the World Organisation for Animal Health and internships are offered in coordination with zoological institutions such as the Jardin Zoologique de Rabat.
Category:Animal welfare organizations Category:Environmental organisations based in Morocco