Al Hoceima National Park

Schéma ISEA :

Schema

Territory :

The national park of Al Hoceima extends, for the most part, on the mountain massif of Bokkoya. It is limited to the north by the sea, to the west by the Mestassa valley and to the south and to the east by the dividing line of the waters with the wadi Rhis. The Bokkoya massif is a mountainous building stretching for about 40 km between the town of Al Hoceima to the east and the village of Torres. This morphology is distinguished by blunt and rather compartmentalized forms, with maximum altitudes varying between 500 and 700 m.

Physical characteristic :

It is a mountainous area with a tormented relief with a shore composed of cliffs and caves and several islets and rocks. The maritime borders of the Bokoya Massif are characterized by a steep relief, marked by steep cliffs, in some places exceeding 300 m of elevation change, cut from the carbonate materials of the calcarious Dorsale. Bays and beaches are relatively rare, and escarpments are steep and inaccessible. The extensions of this chain constitute a sea bottom of mainly limestone nature with along the protected coastal line of caves and shallow underwater openings likely to form siphons.

Specificity and importance :

Al Hoceima national park hides Mediterranean-specific ecosystems such as associations in Cystoseira amantacea and coral formations. It also houses critical habitats for endangered, threatened or endemic species as appropriate caves for monk seals, sea islets for the giant limpet and the Audouin seagull and cliffs for the reproduction and nesting of the osprey, coral formations very remarkable in terms of richness and spatial distribution, and underwater caves. In addition, the coast still has underwater caves that can house the monk seal, which has disappeared in the area.

Threats and Pressures :

Even before the formalization of the existence of the national park, the marine and terrestrial spaces of the protected area remained preserved from any major impairment. The creation of the national park reinforced the preservation imperatives mainly on land where the management unit established and supported by forestry staff ensures regular monitoring and awareness of the local population. Pastoral pressure and the removal of natural resources seem to be under control for a large part of this territory.

Urban pressure is very low in the national park, even if it seems to assert itself more and more on its periphery because of an asserted policy of opening up and socioeconomic development-economic based on tourism on the Mediterranean coast of the Kingdom in general and especially the coast of the Province of Al Hoceima. At sea, pressure on fishery resources remains perceptible, in particular creating conflicts of use between artisanal and industrial fishermen.

Ecological characteristics :

Al-Hoceima national park is characterized by the presence of a forest cover with many Mediterranean woody species represented in the area, especially the Berber cedar. Avifauna is also present. Nesting of species of high heritage value such as osprey, Audouin gull, Golden Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle, Imperial Eagle and Hawk has been noted. As for marine biodiversity, the national park is also populated by Atlantic and Mediterranean species. The benthic marine flora of Al Hoceima national park is made up of 264 taxa. The National Park also houses a great specific diversity and many endangered species such as the giant limpet, the red coral and the dusky grouper. The floristic richness (laminars, cystoseires, etc.) will also be highlighted. The integrity of underwater habitats is only minimally affected by human activities.

Management :

Parc National Al Hoceima, Mohamed Jabran, rimadamiyad@gmail.com

Geographical position :

Al Hoceima National Park is located on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco, about 150 km east of the Strait of Gibraltar, near the town of Al Hoceima.