By
Mohammed Tafraouti
The Moroccan Club for Environment and Development organized with the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE) a Environmental event in Athens, Greece. It is organized within the United Nations Decade of Oceanography under the slogan “The ocean we need for the future we want“.
The celebration included a variety of activities targeting mainly students, teachers, parents, non-governmental organizations, the media, and institutions relating to environment and education. The objective is to raise awareness of the importance of the sea and oceans. They cover more than 70 percent of the Earth’s area and provide 50 precent of oxygen. They are a major source of economic and living resources.
Several forums were organized on the occasion within the International Decade “Ocean Sciences for Sustainable Development 2030/2021”, launched by the United Nations. It ringed the alarm about the deterioration of oceans due to pollution and human intervention. And the increase of sea levels in the context of the impact of climate change, as well as the deterioration of coastal land. These effects result in extreme phenomena and catastrophic risks that affect the balance of the ocean system and the marine environment in general.
The Moroccan Club for Environment and Development aims to commemorate the 2021 Mediterranean Action Day, which is organized annually by the Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture and Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE ). It is a union that includes 130 Mediterranean non – governmental organizations active on both sides of the Mediterranean, in the fields of environment, intercultural dialogue and sustainable development.
The club’s activities on the occasion consisted of raising the level of awareness among members of society, especially young people and students. The club used information, education, and communication, also to clarify the advantages of the ocean system and the marine environment, and the various challenges such as pollution caused by plastic materials. The club carried out some creative and practical educational activities aimed at protecting the ocean system, the coast and the marine environment.
The demonstration included various activities related to several axes, including the organization of an educational seminar on “The Role of Education and Communication in the Implementation of the United Nations Decade for Oceanography: 2021-2030 and the Protection of the Marine Environment”.
And By the way, Dr. Mohamed Fatouhi, President of the Moroccan Club for Environment and Development, mentioned the reasons and the necessity to intensify a set of activities targeting public opinion because the oceans are exposed to continuous encroachment of plastic. He pointed the role they play in regulating the climate and absorbing nearly a third of carbon dioxide emissions. He also, Noted that the coastal areas population of 300 million people is threatened by sea level rise due to climate change. While oceans cover more than two thirds of our blue planet, more than 80% of our surroundings are completely unknown and unexplored. However, the share of ocean science fundings is low.
The student at the
Institution of Mahd Maarifa Sale ( knowledge Cradle school )
Aya Al-Fadili, reviewed an intervention on the promotion of environmental awareness among the learners in preserving the seas and oceans.
Dr. Mustapha Bennramel, head of the Association of Eco-Lighthouses in Kenitra, addressed the importance of the marine environment and the various challenges and ways of preservation. Dr. Abdelali Salli, professor at the Faculty of Education Sciences in Rabat and a member of the Moroccan Club for Environment and Development, addressed the role of education and communication in consolidating the values of preserving the sea and the ocean. The forum included an extensive discussion. It handled various problems, discussed several constraints, and recommended drawing the parameters of finding appropriate and realistic solutions. The participants discussed the importance of the Mediterranean Day of Action 21 and the Decade of the United Nations.
In the oceans sciences, they studied and analysed the great challenges and their heavy and varied impacts. They highlighted the role of education and science as critical elements in responding to these challenges. The participants unanimously agreed that school participation and the provision of information are essential factors that contribute to the preservation of the marine system. They also stressed that partnership is a crucial tool to promote culture and education in the preservation of marine life, environment and sustainable development.
The Moroccan Club for Environment and Development implemented several other activities, such as organizing a creative achievement by students on the protection of the oceans and the marine environment in Salé and Hafir, as well as the production of awareness materials on the United Nations Decade for Science.
The oceans in the service of sustainable development, as well as a student group exploratory field visit to the city of Ahfir, eastern Morocco, which was supervised by the club’s eastern branch.
Several awards were also distributed for the best achievements in the field of drawing, mind mapping and scientific articles within the creative achievement competition for students focused on protection, and challenges and measures related to the protection of the oceans and marine environment.
Photo Dr mohamed ftouhi
_In this context, we had a short chat with Dr. Mohamed Fattouhi, president of the Moroccan Club for Environment and Development:
Civil society has become a key player in supporting official strategic directions and framing programs for ocean degradation.
What is the focus of the various educational initiatives offered by the Moroccan Club for Environment and Development in the field of marine and ocean conservation?
To restore the marine environment, we need a knowledge revolution in ocean sciences and the delivery of scientific information to marine users and visitors. The Sustainable Development Goals seek to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from pollution and in accordance with the objective 14 of sustainable development. The Mediterranean coast, north and south, is experiencing the challenges of the marine environment. In addition to human intervention that exacerbating pollution, especially plastic waste, excessive exploitation of fish resources, maritime transport and pressure from unsustainable tourism activities, there are other effects that intensify the situation due to climate change, such as sea level rise and temperature increase and acidity. But the serious danger is linked to our patterns of production and consumption. The consequences of seas plastic pollution impact health as it reaches our plates.
Why focus club activities, during the celebration of Mediterranean Action Day this year2021, to target young people and students in educational institutions?
Morocco is very active in the development of the Mediterranean Strategy for Education for Sustainable Development, which necessitates a reform of the education system to integrate sustainable development.
As a civil society, we are engaged in environmental education in accordance with specific objectives or procedures aimed at raising awareness of the importance of preserving the marine ecosystem. Especially that Morocco has two maritime frontages on the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, extending over 3,500 km in length. Because of these two frontages, the sea and the ocean have a very important economic, social, environmental and cultural role for Morocco. However, our marine and coastal environment suffers from many problems, such as human pressure, urban dynamics, and climate change. All of these, threatens the balance of coasts and marine environments.
Are understanding and knowledge sufficient to face the challenges surrounding the blue planet?
Each one works from its perspective and capabilities, launching the ocean science decade in the service of sustainable development 2021-2030, through knowledge and understanding, which we engage in its goals, aiming to advance ocean science and the sustainable use of the oceans. It aspires to mobilize the scientific community, decision makers and society as a whole in order to put the ocean back on its right track. Most of us live without knowing how our daily actions affect the health and sustainability of the ocean and its many resources on which we depend.
Most of us also don’t know how ocean health affects our daily lives. This is the goal of combating illiteracy on oceans matter. A deep understanding of the impact of the ocean on us and our impact on it will help to meet the needs of preserving the ocean system and the marine environment, improve awareness and participation of all stakeholders including children and youth in this process.
