Morocco counts 1.8 million hectares of oak forests

Morocco counts 1.8 million hectares of oak forests, representing 31 percent of the country's overall forests.

These figures were released Monday by the Moroccan forests authorities on the occasion of the international meeting on oak protection currently being held in Morocco.

Oak forests, which provide 80 percent of Morocco's firewood and 30 percent of livestock feed, are threatened by decay and require rapid preservation actions.

Aware of the importance of forests in Morocco's economy, flora and fauna, the responsible Moroccan authorities decided recently to reforest 500,000 hectares over the next ten years to counter the alarming deforestation caused by fires and over-exploitation.