National Agency for Water and Forests
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
| Abbreviation | ANEF |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | High Commission for Water and Forests and the Fight Against Desertification |
| Established | 2021 |
| Type | Public establishment |
| Headquarters | Rabat, Morocco |
Parent organization | Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests |
| Website | www |
The National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) is a Moroccan public institution responsible for the management and conservation of forest resources, as well as the implementation of state policy in the fields of forestry, biodiversity, and desertification control. Based in Rabat, it operates across the entire national territory.
The National Agency for Water and Forests was established in 2021 by Law No. 52-20 relating to its creation. It succeeded the former water and forests administration, which had been part of the ministry responsible for agriculture, in the context of a reform of governance in the forestry sector.[1]
This reform formed part of the implementation of the national strategy “Forests of Morocco 2020–2030”, launched in 2020, aimed at modernizing forest management and strengthening its contribution to economic development and the preservation of natural resources.[2]
The agency became operational in 2022, marking an institutional shift in the organization of the water and forestry sector in Morocco.[3]
Missions
ANEF is responsible for implementing state policy in the forestry sector. In this capacity, it is involved in:[4][5][6]
- the management and development of forest resources;
- biodiversity conservation;
- protection of fauna and flora;
- combating desertification and land degradation;
- management of protected areas;
- regulation of hunting and inland fishing activities.
It also contributes to the implementation of rural development programs related to forest areas.
Organization
ANEF is a public institution with legal personality and financial autonomy. It is governed by a board of directors and headed by a director general.
It has a territorial organization structured around decentralized services responsible for managing forest resources at the regional and local levels.[7]
Activities
The agency carries out actions in several areas, including:[8]
- prevention and control of forest fires;
- reforestation and ecosystem restoration programs;
- monitoring and protection of forest areas;
- development of forest-based economic sectors;
- collection and management of data on natural resources.
