1. Biodiversity

Biodiversity

To date, the lists of fauna and flora species developed at the national level and recorded within the Department of Sustainable Development are based on two main works: the National Biodiversity Study (ENB) of 1998 and the lists of species discovered in Morocco up to 2013 (a project carried out with funding from the United Nations Environment Programme – UNEP).

In order to present the actual state of biodiversity, an update of species data was conducted within the framework of the National Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (ENBSE). This work initially relied on a series of consultations with scientific experts and institutions (both national and international) to identify available information and assess the feasibility of the task.

It was found that for some groups, information is easily accessible and already exists in the form of atlases or recent national studies, while for others, no national publication centralizing information is available, requiring an in-depth analysis of various scientific publications. Furthermore, for certain taxonomic groups, no recent publications allow for a more detailed analysis beyond the data presented in previous studies.

For each taxonomic group, expert teams followed the main steps below:

  • Harmonization of the lists established in 1998 and 2013 into a single usable file;
  • Updating and supplementing data based on the most relevant publications and specialized databases;
  • Addition of information on species status (national and international);
  • Consolidation of a single dataset submitted to the Department of Sustainable Development for database development;
  • Identification of gaps and needs.

It should be noted that this update is not intended to be a detailed taxonomic revision, but rather an update and validation of existing lists based on the most recent publications in Morocco. It also aims to highlight gaps and identify research and study needs to address these shortcomings.

Morocco’s climatic and geographical diversity has led to the emergence of a wide variety of ecosystems and biodiversity. The country is home to an estimated 25,597 animal species (including invertebrates) and 7,491 plant and fungal species (including 4,800 vascular plants), with a particularly high level of endemism among Mediterranean countries.

Among vascular plants, 17.2% are endemic, including 8.92% strictly endemic to Morocco and 2.6% endemic to the Maghreb. Regarding fungi, 10 species (1.2%) are considered strictly endemic to Morocco.

For fauna, 11.7% of species are considered endemic according to updated lists (28.6% of amphibians, 19.6% of reptiles, 11.9% of terrestrial mammals, 54% of freshwater fish, 71.4% of freshwater mollusks, and 15.6% of odonates).

Marine environments in Morocco also host a high diversity of species (7,136 species), including important fisheries, with 3.3% of species being endemic.

However, the update of knowledge on species diversity in Morocco highlights several gaps and needs, particularly regarding endemism rates, threat levels, conservation status, and invasive or exotic species. The lack of a dedicated data management system and insufficient updating of knowledge constitute barriers to informed policy decisions on species conservation and protection.

While groups such as birds, vascular flora, lepidopterans, reptiles, amphibians, and terrestrial mammals are relatively well studied, others—such as fungi, lichens, mosses, terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates, and marine biodiversity—require significant efforts in inventory, research, and comprehensive updating. A nationwide exhaustive study involving specialized researchers and extensive field surveys remains necessary, particularly for taxa with limited publications.

Additionally, knowledge in microbiology is currently concentrated within the Laboratory of Microbiology and Molecular Biology (LMBM), which has established the Moroccan Coordinated Collections of Microorganisms (CCMM), comprising nearly 3,000 microorganisms, 95% of which are of Moroccan origin. However, this complex field remains relatively inaccessible, and no national reference document has yet been produced.

As of the assessment conducted in March 2021, out of 2,695 species of fauna, flora, and fungi assessed by the IUCN in Morocco, 291 species fall into the most concerning categories (Vulnerable, Endangered, and Critically Endangered). Among these threatened species, 71% show declining population trends (191 out of 268 species). Critically endangered species particularly affect marine (40%) and aquatic (35%) ecosystems.

The highest proportions of threatened species among assessed groups are found in chondrichthyans (cartilaginous fish), insects, and birds for fauna, and in Magnoliopsida (dicotyledonous angiosperms) and Liliopsida (monocotyledons) for flora. Agaricomycetes (fungi), gastropods (freshwater and marine mollusks), and bivalves show the highest rates of threatened species within their taxa, with 60%, 53%, and 42% respectively of assessed species considered threatened.