As part of IUCN-Med's Conserving wild plants and habitats for people in the South and East Mediterranean (IPAMed) project, a visit of the Important Area for plant (IPA) of Jebel Bou Naceur was held from April 5th to 7th 2016, in Morocco.

This visit was an opportunity for IUCN-Med to meet experts of the Scientific Institute of Rabat, and administrative staff of the High Commission for Water and Forests and to consult stakeholders and residents of the IPA. Thanks to this visit, the various participants agreed on the type of media IUCN-Med could provide in order to improve the efficiency of beekeeping activities. Moreover, this visit was an occasion to discuss the project's expected results by involving the decision-makers and stakeholders in the various phases of implementation, including the collection of field data and participation in training workshops.

The IPAMed project focuses on Important Plant Areas, which are sites of international importance for plants and a subsection of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). IUCN and Plantlife are working together, along with IUCN members of the Mediterranean Plant Specialist Group and other partner organizations of the countries concerned. The aim is to help and encourage citizens, management authorities, national and local governments, experts and finally NGOs to work for the conservation of these Important Plant Areas.

About the Jebel Bou Naceur IPA :
Jebel Bou Naceur is one of 16 IPAs selected as pilot cases for IPAMED project. Moreover, Jebel Bou Naceur is also a SIBE (Site of Biological and Ecological Interest) because it has a remarkable endemic plant diversity (about 60 species, 19 species and 13 sub Moroccan endemic varieties of a total of 556 species, 68 families and 283 genera for the country). This diversity can be explained by its high altitude and its proximity to arid zones (the top of the mountain reaches 340 m, making it the highest mountain of the Middle Atlas).

For more information: Marcos Valderrábano

Photo: Jebel Bou Naceur © IUCN