Many demands, one river - Oued Sebou, Morocco

Oued Sebou, one of Morocco's most important rivers, begins amongst scattered lakes in the cool oak and cedar forests of Morocco's Middle Atlas range. It runs north through the overgrazed scrub and grasses of the Atlas foothills to meet its tributary, Oued Fes, near the historic city of Fes.

From there, it winds through one of the most populated areas of Morocco, supplying water to irrigate fields of rice, wheat and sugar-beet as well as supporting olive groves and vineyards. This lower course of the river is artificially connected by the Nador canal to one of the most important wetlands of North Africa: the Merja Zerga lagoon. The connection drains the agricultural fields directly into the lagoon.

This North African water system is the southernmost occurrence of several European species: brown trout dart through clear, fast-running Atlas mountain streams; slower-moving, more vegetated sections of the Sebou are home to loaches such as Cobitis marocanna and Cobitis taenia.

Critical habitat for rare and vulnerable bird species
For rare and vulnerable bird species such as the marbled duck, crested coot and lesser kestrel, wetlands along the Sebou and Merja Zerga lagoon provide critical habitat. For many migratory bird species, Morocco is their first or last African feeding point.

Threats facing the river
In this region of high temperatures and low rainfall, the Sebou is an important resource stretched to its capacity, and beyond. Following a massive fish kill early in 2004, investigations found no single toxic event. The cumulative effect of many agricultural and industrial pollutants had raised salinity and reduced oxygen below viable levels.

Agriculture is the major consumer of Sebou water, with irrigation-based traditional rights stretching back to earlier times and different circumstances. Dams built to improve water distribution silt up quickly due to high erosion, especially where forests no longer protect the catchment.

Sugar plants and other industries use the river as a sewer for dumping untreated waste. Water becomes too scarce to meet human demands; the quality drops; valuable wetlands and biodiversity are barely considered.

Calling for better management of Sebou water
With so many crucial demands, any programme for sustainable use of the Sebou must engage local communities and also effectively monitor cumulative effects, not just single events. Using the principles of integration and participation, WWF is working with stakeholders to develop coordinated decision-making processes, and working with water managers and authorities on strategies and activities that are cooperative and complementary.