Morocco's Water and Forests agency boosts anti-poaching measures to safeguard wildlife

The National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) has intensified its efforts to combat poaching throughout Morocco, as stated in an official press release dated October 22, 2024. Between September 20 and October 20, 2024, ANEF recorded 52 reports covering 70 hunting and wildlife-related offenses in provinces such as Essaouira, Taroudante, Nador, and Larache.

According to the ANEF Director General, fighting poaching is an absolute priority for the agency this season. The press release highlights major violations, including hunting in reserves or leased land (25 offenses), use of prohibited means (17 offenses), hunting during closed periods (12 offenses), failure to present documents (9 offenses), and hunting protected species, notably a Cuvier's gazelle in the Taroudante region (7 offenses).

The agency reaffirms its zero-tolerance policy on poaching, even among its collaborators, as exemplified by the revocation of a federal guard's accreditation for a poaching offense.

ANEF invites civil society and hunting associations to continue their efforts in raising awareness and guiding hunters, emphasizing that preserving natural resources is a collective responsibility requiring everyone's involvement to respect wildlife protection rules and report suspicious activities to the competent authorities.