More than 20 plants and natural habitats experts from Morocco have met on May 31st, 2016 at the Forest Research Centre of Rabat to review and update Important Plant Areas (IPAs) in Morocco. This meeting was organised by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation.

Morocco has a remarkably diverse flora, with more than 3,500 plant species. Important Plant Areas in Morocco are characterised by a particularly high number of endemic species. This work has helped update the limits of 19 IPAs identified in 2011 (Publication: Important Plant Areas of the south and east Mediterranean region).

The initiative was part of the project Conserving wild plants and habitats for people in the South and East Mediterranean (IPA-Med). The project represents an ambitious initiative aimed at developing plant conservation actions in the southern and eastern Mediterranean, including North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans, combining the experience and expertise of Plantlife International and IUCN. 

For more Information: Marcos Valderrabano

Photo credits: Zone Importante pour les Plantes (ZIP) de Jebel Bou Naceur - © IUCN-Med