Strengthen Long Term Al-Haouz Earthquake Recovery

In October, the administrative and contractual procedures for the new Demnate plant nursery were completed, marking the launch of our sixth nursery to date, joining those already established in Imegdal, Aït M’Hamed, Zaouiat Ahensal, Oukaïmeden, and Tilgouite. Together, these sites form a growing network of community-led hubs that promote biodiversity restoration, sustainable livelihoods, and the conservation of local plant species across the High Atlas.

Developed in close partnership with Cooperative Demnatna, which will manage and operate the site, the Demnate nursery is now taking shape on the ground. The main infrastructure is in place, with fencing installed, a water basin completed, and both the greenhouse tunnel and shaded area fully prepared for planting. Once operational, the nursery will be stocked with locally selected medicinal and aromatic plants and species chosen for their ecological value and economic potential.

The nursery will play a central role in supporting local partners, including cooperatives, public schools, associations, and individual farmers, through the annual production and distribution of seedlings. By ensuring access to high-quality plant material, it will contribute directly to landscape restoration efforts, sustainable income generation, and the revitalisation of traditional agroecological practices.

The construction and setup are being managed by agroecological expert Boujmaa Gueghlan, who is also providing hands-on technical support and training to cooperative members in nursery management and maintenance. This approach aims not only to establish a well-functioning nursery but also to strengthen local ownership and capacity, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the initiative.

Once fully operational, the Demnate nursery will stand as a model in the region for collaborative, community-based restoration, linking ecological regeneration with local economic development and contributing to the broader recovery and resilience of the High Atlas region.

Nearly two years after the earthquake that devastated Morocco’s High Atlas, the Global Diversity Foundation continues to work on long-term recovery with local partners across the region. While many homes and systems are being rebuilt, some of the most vulnerable remain excluded from formal aid mechanisms.

In early 2025, a trusted community leader from one of our longstanding partner villages reached out with an urgent concern: four elderly widowed women, aged 60 to 75, were living in makeshift shelters after their homes were destroyed. They were unable to access governmental reconstruction support due to an administrative issue—none of their national ID cards officially listed their current village as their place of residence. As a result, they have been left behind—despite being life-long members of the community.

This village is not new to us. Over the past year and a half, we have collaborated closely with the community through several phases of our High Atlas Earthquake Recovery Programme. We coordinated seed distributions, facilitated the construction of animal shelters, and engaged local herders in veterinary support caravans. But our connection runs deeper than service provision: we have also shared creative, intergenerational exchanges through two cultural activities—the recording of the Life in the Orchards podcast (in collaboration with community members), and the hosting of film screenings and workshops for children during our Harvest Festival exchange.

When the community leader reached out, we recognised not only the urgency of the situation, but also the depth of mutual trust that made this appeal possible. The solidarity campaign we launched in response aims to provide safe, dignified shelter before next winter.

What makes this initiative possible is the village’s strong communal spirit: neighbours have pledged to contribute labour and time to the reconstruction. What’s missing is the material: cement, wood, bricks, and transport to this remote area.

This initiative reflects several pillars of our long-term recovery strategy:

• Local leadership and community engagement: The campaign was born from a grassroots request and is sustained by the willingness of neighbours to build together.
• Equity and inclusion: We are addressing the gaps left by top-down aid systems by responding to the real and nuanced needs of marginalised groups.
• Resilience through dignity: By supporting these women, we are restoring not only shelter but a sense of belonging and safety within their communities.

While addressing:

• Gaps in official aid distribution, especially affecting women, widows, and elders
• Social justice and equity, ensuring all community members are included in the recovery process
• Community-driven resilience, amplifying local leadership and mutual support systems

Funds raised will go directly to:

• Purchasing building materials (wood, cement, bricks, etc.)
• Covering transport to this remote location
• Supporting community-led construction efforts