Speaker
Description
Climate change is a global challenge that requires urgent action to mitigate its effects. Despite efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, projections indicate an intensification of its impacts, with significant economic, social, and environmental consequences. Morocco, characterized by diverse climatic zones and a strong dependence on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture and water resources, is particularly vulnerable. In this context, forest ecosystems emerge as a nature-based solution for both climate change mitigation and adaptation. They contribute to carbon sequestration through the protection of existing forests, the restoration of degraded ecosystems, and the implementation of sustainable management practices that reduce GHG emissions. This study presents a synthesis of research on carbon storage and sequestration in Moroccan forest ecosystems. The results reveal significant variability in carbon storage depending on the type of forest ecosystem, the degree of degradation, and ecological factors. For example, in the Middle Atlas, carbon stocks in biomass range from 55.5 to 88.5 t C ha⁻¹ for mixed forests (holm oak and cedar) and from 35 to 206 t C ha⁻¹ for pure cedar forests. Soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks also exhibit great variability, ranging from 160 to 213 t C ha⁻¹ for Atlas cedar and between 40 and 264 t C ha⁻¹ for oak forests. Given these challenges, sustainable forest management stands out as a key strategy for enhancing carbon sequestration. This includes expanding forest cover through reforestation and afforestation, preventing deforestation, and optimizing silvicultural techniques.
Keywords: Climate change, forest ecosystems, carbon sequestration, biomass, sustainable management.
