Study site description: Sehoul, Morocco

Table of Contents

1. General information
2. Bio-physical description
3. Land and resource use
   1. Land use practice in cultivated areas
   2. Water resources
   3. Forest resources
   4. Strengths of existing land use practices
   5. Weaknesses of existing land use practices
   6. Major degradation issues
   7. Experimental results
4. Socio-economic description
5. Institutional and political setting
6. Relevant end-users / stakeholder groups
7. Past and on-going projects

Forest resources

The forest occupies 30% of the Sehoul commune ; it is composed of cork oak and in its eastern part by Callitris articulata and matorral (Lentisque and oleaster) and some artificial plantations of pinus and eucalyptus.

The forest has many uses. It is a main pasture land for the local population and it is an important resource of fire wood and provides many other products. On the economic side, the forest is opened for exploitation of cork, of charcoal, and of eucalyptus wood. Cutting operations are organised by the forestry administration and made by enterprises. The administration also has the duty of planning the forest management.

Due to the proximity of urban agglomerations, the forest is also visited for leisure. The orientation towards a touristic function can lead to a complete transformation of the management rules.