As part of its nationally determined contributions (NDCs), the Moroccan Government has highlighted the forest sector's potential for adaptation and mitigation and has set a target of restoring 40 000 hectares per year by 2020. The forest sector is expected to contribute 11.6 percent of efforts to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) over the period 2020–2030. Restoration and rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems are key to achieving this objective.

In a context of climate change that has affected all sectors and is amplified by increased economic and demographic development, Morocco is adopting a participatory approach for the achievement of its objectives. As mentioned in the strategy “Forests of Morocco 2020–2030”, this approach will be gender-sensitive and based on technical and scientific data, and traditional knowledge. The country is integrating adaptation action within the framework of regional cooperation, with the objective of making it more effective and sustainable. Morocco intends to develop a national adaptation plan for forest ecosystems, which will be based on initiatives and actions for strengthening the resilience of these ecosystems.

These objectives are integrated into the activities of the "Paris Agreement in Action" project – Morocco component. Under this project, which is supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Ministry of the Environment, Morocco is promoting forest and landscape restoration (FLR) through field activities, notably in the Maâmora Forest. More specifically, these actions focus on three key points:

• Revision of the forest NDC: A national consultation process is underway to make the contribution of forests and FLR to the NDC clearer. Following the engagement of relevant stakeholders and organizations, a first phase has included an analysis of progress, assessing the scope of the forest NDC already submitted and the forestry sector actions and policies implemented to date. This is to determine the current mitigation potential of the listed forestry sector actions. A review of the selected long-term objectives and benchmarks provided guidance for improving NDC targets for the forestry sector in relation to the mitigation objectives of the Paris Agreement. The phase currently in progress is to identify an appropriate set of forest-based solutions and corresponding policy measures. This is to lower emissions and/or increase CO2 sequestration, through reduced deforestation and degradation, FLR and improved forest management. The finalization of this work is underway through i) a comprehensive assessment of the benefits and costs of improving decision making on forestry sector solutions to be included in the revised NDC and helping determine financing options; ii) improving and/or creating favourable conditions to support the integration of selected solutions.

• Participatory restoration in the Maâmora Forest: A study to facilitate the implementation of participatory and integrated restoration at the level of the Maâmora Forest is underway and will be finalized in 2021. The objective is to develop a diagnosis and methodology, as well as planning and implementation for the restoration of degraded cork oak forest ecosystems. A framework for participatory forest management will be established, including identification of the sites, organizations and actors to be involved, and support for non-state actors for the implementation of participatory restoration. In addition, research to analyse the potential of truffle production in the Maâmora Forest is now being undertaken to improve the value chain of non-timber forest products.

• Improvement of the Moroccan national GHG inventory system: Planned for the coming months, this project will support a pilot inventory within the cedar ecosystems of the Middle Atlas Mountains, which will constitute the preliminary phase of a national forest inventory. This activity is part of the capacity building plan for monitoring and evaluation, with the integration of indicators for FLR in the national GHG inventory system (SNI-GES).

Valentina Garavaglia (FAO), Abdelhak Laiti (FAO), Khalid Cherki (Department of Water and Forests, Morocco), Ahlame Sghir (Department of Water and Forests, Morocco)