water from natural springs to fields and gardens in underground
channels, without losing precious water to evaporation.
Although certification is still a novel concept, most small-scale Moroccan farming practices are
organic by default, since chemical fertilisers are costly and donkey dung pretty much comes
with the territory. Community hammams use power and water for steamy saunas more
efficiently than individual showers or baths. Locally made, detergent-free savon noir (‘black
soap’ made from natural palm and olive oils) is gentle enough for a shave and effective as
laundry soap, without polluting run-off – and leftover ‘grey water’ can be used for gardens and
courtyard fountains. With Morocco’s traditional mudbrick architecture, metre-thick walls provide
natural insulation against heat in summer and chill in winter, eliminating most street noise and
the need for air-con and central heating.
Morocco is also thinking fast on its feet, becoming an early adopter of resource-saving new
technologies. Drilling oil off the coast of the Western Sahara has proved expensive and
politically and environmentally messy, so Morocco is now turning towards more reliable energy
sources for its own use and for export. The pioneering nation is already harnessing wind power
in the Rif, and Ouarzazate now produces a combined 500,000 megawatts of electricity at five
sites, making Ouarzazate one of the world’s largest solar-electricity generators.
To tackle challenges still ahead, Morocco will need all the resourcefulness it can muster –
and all the support it can get from visitors. Due to the demands of city dwellers and tourist
complexes, 37% of villages around Marrakesh now lack a reliable source of potable water.
Damming to create reservoirs frequently strips downstream water of valuable silts needed to
sustain farms and coastal wetlands. Forests are also under threat, with around 250 sq km of
forest lost each year, including Moroccan pine, thuya and Atlas cedar. Pollution is a weighty
concern, literally: Morocco’s cities alone produce an annual harvest of 2.4 million tonnes of solid
waste.
While Morocco is considering legislated measures on a host of environmental measures from
wetlands protection to mandating biodegradable plastic bags, changes are already afoot in
communities across Morocco. Everywhere you travel in Morocco, you’ll notice minor
modifications that collectively make major savings in scarce resources – and you’re invited to
participate. Solar water heaters provide hot water instantly for showers in the afternoon and
evening, so taking showers at those times saves water that might otherwise be wasted by
running the tap while gas heaters warm up. Reforestation programs are helping prevent
erosion, and you can help by staying on marked mountain paths and supporting local NGO
reforestation initiatives. Organic gardens provide fresh ingredients for meals, reducing the
dependence on food transported over long distances – and ordering local, seasonal specialities
provides positive reinforcement for local food sourcing. Morocco’s pioneering Green Key
program also certifies hotels and guesthouses that institute a range of resource-conserving
measures, from low-flow toilets to environmentally friendly cleaning products.
Add these traditional, national, and local resource-saving practices together, and Morocco is
poised not only to make the switch to sustainable tourism, but to show Europe how it’s done.