Assessment for Mobilizing Investments for Morocco’s Forests and Biodiversity

THE BACKGROUND

Forests are critical to Morocco’s biodiversity, climate resilience, and rural livelihoods. Yet, the country’s forests face persistent threats, including deforestation, degradation, and economic pressures on rural communities. The Moroccan government launched the ambitious Forêts du Maroc 2020–2030 strategy to promote sustainable forest management, enhance biodiversity conservation, and boost rural employment. However, financing these goals requires innovative solutions that go beyond traditional public funding.

THE PROJECT

Under the European Union’s Forests for the Future Facility and the Financing for Forests (FFF) initiative, FINANCE FOR IMPACT conducted a national assessment in Morocco. This study analyzes the current forest finance landscape, identifies promising financing instruments such as carbon markets, biodiversity credits, and Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES), and explores opportunities for private sector engagement. The project engaged key stakeholders across government, finance, communities, and industry to co-create actionable solutions for scaling investments in sustainable forest management.

THE RESULTS

The project delivered a detailed forest finance landscape appraisal for Morocco, highlighting risks, opportunities, and innovative solutions. It provided concrete recommendations for piloting forest financing tools, helping Morocco unlock investments that support conservation, restoration, sustainable livelihoods, and climate action. The findings also contributed to the global knowledge base for forest finance, strengthening Morocco’s leadership in biodiversity-positive and climate-resilient development pathways.