Auteur :
Khoukhouchi
Mounia,
Errami
Ezzoura,
Hassou
Najwa
...[et al.]
Année de Publication :
2018
Type : Article
Thème : Milieux marins
Couverture : Maroc
The Oualidia-Sidi Moussa lagoon complex has a high landscape value and constitutes one of the most important coastal ecosystems on the Moroccan Atlantic coast. In addition to their endemic flora and fauna, these sites have a crucial role in the overwintering of several migratory bird species. Also, this complex is surrounded by several cultural and religious sites. The wealth of this lagoon complex motivated us to evaluate its geomorphosites in order to promote nature tourism for sustainable human development. To achieve this goal, we have used a method for scientific, didactic and additional parameters assessment, as well as the attribution of different scores. The geomorphosites assessment revealed an important scientific value for both lagoons of Oualidia-Sidi Moussa complex, but it was negatively impacted by the integrity criterion of the lagoons. Generally, the visiting conditions are good for both sites. Moreover, a significant number of economic activities are developed in the two lagoons including oyster farming, agriculture and tourism, which make it a considerable socio-economic interest area for the riverside populations. However, the intense and uncontrolled exploitation of the natural resources of these lagoons puts them at risk. The identification of the geomorphological elements of the Oualidia and Sidi Moussa lagoons that have been realized will help to highlight the potentially exceptional sites at the scale of the lagoon complex in terms of culture, education and aesthetics, as well as on the economic and social levels and therefore, the elaboration of policies and preservation planning.