In preparation for the update of the post-2020 National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), the Department of Sustainable Development conducted a National Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (NABES). As part of this assessment, the lists of species previously compiled under the National Biodiversity Study (1998) and subsequently revised and supplemented in 2013 were updated.
The structure and methodology of the NABES were aligned with the approaches adopted by countries that have undertaken national assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services. A comparative analysis of four countries — Cambodia, Costa Rica, Türkiye and Spain — helped inform the design of the assessment framework and identify appropriate methods for data collection and analysis, with a view to producing a comprehensive overview of the state of national biodiversity and an evaluation of ecosystem services.
The preparation of the NABES fostered inter-ministerial dialogue and cross-sectoral collaboration across thematic areas and stakeholders. A participatory approach was adopted, involving representatives from government sectors, the scientific community, civil society organizations and other relevant stakeholders. In total, approximately 124 individuals representing 45 institutions contributed to the process in various capacities.
The review of the NABES report followed the methodology adopted by the IPBES, which involves a two-stage peer-review process. An initial internal review was conducted by members of the NABES steering committee, followed by an external review carried out by nationally and internationally recognized experts on a voluntary basis.
In addition to a Summary for Policymakers, the NABES report is structured around four complementary chapters:
Chapter 1: Study Context;
Chapter 2: Legal and Institutional Framework;
Chapter 3: Status, Trends and Drivers of Change of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Morocco;
Chapter 4: Assessment Conclusions and Outlook.
Overall, the NABES provides an overview of the legal and institutional framework governing biodiversity in Morocco, as well as an assessment of its current status, trends and drivers of change. The assessment also enabled the updating of national biodiversity species lists, leading to a revised estimate of the total number of fauna and flora species recorded in Morocco.
