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Planting Trees: An Act of Faith
By Yossef Ben-Meir, Imane Akhezzane, and Ellen Hernandez The Qur’an speaks about water as the life force: the heavens and the Earth were a joined entity, and then they were separated and every living thing was made from water [21:30]. Everything needs water to survive, and among these, of course, are trees. Trees help us […]
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Monitoring Trees in Amizmiz: Another Way to Discover Moroccan Nature and History
HAF Projects Coordinator It was with great enthusiasm that I took the road to Amizmiz a week ago to evaluate the trees distributed by the High Atlas Foundation to various farmers in this region. Tree monitoring is a process rooted in the activities of the Foundation. This is a crucial and necessary step which allows […]
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High Atlas Foundation’s Partnerships Extend Argan Oil Industry Women’s Empowerment
The argan oil industry’s impact on rural empowerment is growing nationwide, in part, because of international demand on women’s cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) launched in Morocco in 2005, which aims to “reduce poverty, grow the economy, and strengthen the kingdom’s social fabric” through participatory development, directly contributes to that industry’s […]
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Drawing Trees: A Participatory Approach to Addressing Challenges
HAF Project Manager The High Atlas Foundation prioritizes participant ownership of the project identification, design, management, and monitoring processes in all of its work in Morocco. It utilizes a plethora of techniques and tools to ensure that its work is conceived of and driven by its beneficiary base, and this in turn contributes to the […]
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We Must Motivate Our Youth by Planting Trees
HAF Project Manager High Atlas Foundation in Morocco is involving all of society’s parts and actors to help establish sustainable development and build a shining future where everyone gets the right support needed. As an example, to fight to show this vision, the HAF team is preparing each group of youth, those who are in […]
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Contributing to Sustainable Development and Saving the Earth by Planting Trees
HAF Trees Monitoring Officer Earth is greatly negatively affected by climate change. This is observed through rising sea levels, hurricanes, floods, forest fires, and other adverse environmental impacts. Immediate measures must be taken to mitigate or adapt to climate change and save the Earth.In this regard, the High Atlas Foundation (HAF), in partnership with Ecosia […]
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Seeds Then and Now in Tassa Ouirgane
HAF President In 1993, for the month before my traveling to live in the Tifnoute Valley just south of Mount Toubkal, I lived in a small house on the outer edge of the village of Tassa Ouirgane, just north of Toubkal. There, I learned conceptually the delicate balance in meeting developmental and environmental goals at […]
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In the Face of Trial, Plant Trees
HAF President Is it hubris, that in the face of worry and challenge and fundamental concerns about the future, that we put aside from what we may have, to plant trees for a tomorrow – a benefit for a distant day? May it actually be our nature to uphold nature, even when we are confronted […]
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Gestion De L’environnement Et Developpement Durable
Etudiante en master En partenariat avec la Fondation Crédit Agricole du Maroc pour le Développement Durable (FCAMDD), High Atlas Foundation (HAF) a lancé un programme de plantation des arbres fruitiers organiques (amandier et noyer) et de formation des agriculteurs en techniques agricoles dans la province de Taroudant, commune de Toubkal, région Souss Massa afin d’assurer […]
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Green Week in Practice with Les Ecoles Illou
HAF Volunteer On February 28, I went on with HAF staff member Hajiba and Mohammed, another volunteer, to the Illou private school to present two workshops on global warming. We were welcomed by the Director, Mrs. Illou, before going to a classroom where we met about 30 second-year students. During the workshop, Hajiba presented the […]
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Nzalat Laadam : L’ecologie Qui Rassemble
FHA voluntaire Le complexe de Nzalat Laadam qui rassemble près de 800 élèves comprend des classes allant du préscolaire jusqu’au collège, dans des bâtiments très colorés où des dessins et tableaux décorent les murs. Il se trouve à près d’une heure de route au Nord de Marrakech. Nous avons été formidablement accueillis dans cet établissement. […]
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Gestion De L’environnement Et Developpement Durable
FHA Stagiaire, Etudiante en Master “Gestion de l’environnemt et développement” Ecosia se dirige de nouveau dans la province d’Al Haouz L’équipe du projet Ecosia, représenté par Mme Hajiba Boumasmar a programmé une visite dans la commune de sidi Badhaj de la province d’Al Haouz dans la région de Marrakech- safi, afin de rencontrer Mr El […]
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A Glimpse of the High Atlas Mountains
HAF Volunteer [Jingxin Wang is a college student from China who attends school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. She is currently on a “gap year,” volunteering with HAF.] The trip to Nzalat Laadam was just like any other. If it weren’t for the ever-so-imposing red in the background, we could easily be driving […]
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fighting the climate change monster by raising awareness among the younger generation
HAF Intern On the morning of the February 17, 2020, I’m going to pass the day with Imane, Karam, Nic and Yossef: international HAF convoy. In the car, the music gives the rhythm to the landscapes which pass before our eyes. Linkin Park and the Norman singer Orelsan are coming on the trip. I learn […]
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Argan Oil
HAF Friend The argan-oil trade is a large and growing industry with fierce competition for customers. With big cosmetic brands integrating argan oil into their products, the demand is ever-increasing outside of the local Morocco market. As it grows in global popularity with social media “influencers” and those seeking organic products, women’s cooperatives have risen […]
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let’s plant pomegranate trees in partnership with al elefa cheese of lalla takerkoust cooperative in lalla takerkoust
Hajiba Boumasmar HAF Tree Monitoring Officer On Monday, 20 January, the High Atlas Foundation commemorated the annual day of tree planting when most of the members of the Foundation came out with Moroccan and foreign volunteers to plant organic trees in the various Moroccan provinces: Al-Haouz, Agadir, Youssoufia, Rabat, and Fez. This day saw the […]
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What Does the 20th of January Mean to Haf?
Sanae Benaadim HAF’s Office Manager Every third Monday of January, HAF takes the initiative of planting trees in different places around Morocco. I heard many positive things about this special day back when I was a volunteer. And I wished to be part of it one day! President Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir, USAID Driver Lahcen Ait […]
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“Plant a Tree Even If It’s the Day of Resurrection” Said the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Be upon Him).
By Errachid Montassir Project Manager Every third Monday of January is the High Atlas Foundation’s annual event “Tree Planting Day.” On this date, all staff members and volunteers come together and plant organic fruit trees across nearly a dozen regions in Morocco. My site this year was the Sbaiaat municipality in El youssoufia province, where […]
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Reflecting on a Day of Planting
By Nic Pantelick HAF Volunteer My Tree Planting Day began with a rain-soaked Marrakech morning. For the first time since I had arrived in Morocco, I felt the chill of winter cutting through me. This biting cold wormed its way past my meager layers and rested an icy hand on the back of my neck. […]
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Journee Nationale De Plantation D’arbres Province D’al Haouz, Asni, Le 20 Janvier 2020
By Imane Akhezzane HAF Project Manager A l’occasion de la journée nationale de plantation d’arbres qu’organise la fondation du Haut Atlas (HAF) chaque année, j’ai eu la chance de visiter le lycée d’Asni, le collège, dar Talib, Dar Taliba et Dar Alfatat pour planter 100 arbres amandiers, et grenadiers. Des membres de la direction des […]
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Let’s Make It Green on January 20th: High Atlas Foundation Will Plant Thousands of Trees
– Let’s make it green on January 20th: High Atlas Foundation will Plant Thousands of Trees, The Policy Times, 18 January 2020. MARRAKECH, Morocco – Jan. 10, 2020 – As the new year begins, the High Atlas Foundation (HAF) would like to invite Moroccan communities to aid in the planting of thousands of trees on Monday, […]
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A Life for Future Generations: Planting in a Nursery
HAF Intern After our team had a traditional breakfast in the town of Asni, we needed to go further into the atlas to help the greenhouse nurseries expand. Our first destination was a nursery in Imigdal. They had one greenhouse and a few terraces. There were approximately 30,000 fruit trees, with a variety of food […]
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Growing Hope in Touama Village
Nic Pantelick HAF Volunteer Yesterday, I traded the sprawling city of Marrakech for the rolling foothills and winding roads of the Moroccan countryside. Watching this buzzing metropolis retreat through the back window of the car we rode in, I was filled with excitement. After an hour of driving and stop for lunch, we arrived at […]
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Haf to Plant 1.2 Million Seeds in 11 Fruit Tree Nurseries in 2020
Hajiba Boumasmar HAF Monitoring Officer For the entire day at the headquarters of the High Atlas Foundation in Marrakech, a meeting took place with HAF’s nursery caretakers, together with HAF’s President Yossef, Director of Projects Amina, Project Manager Said, and Monitoring Officer Hajiba. As part of the 2020 project to plant in 11 nurseries 1.2 […]
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It’s the Time to Plant Trees
Dear Friend, The year has almost reached its end. For HAF, it’s the time to plant trees. Planting trees with farming families and schools in Morocco is an act of empowering recognition and strategic development. It acknowledges the priorities of rural communities and is a vehicle for people’s driven change and transformation. With complete hope […]
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International Day of Childhood
By Anna Ugolini HAF Volunteer On November 20th the International Day of Childhood and Adolescence Rights is celebrated throughout the world. The date reminds us of the day when the United Nations General Assembly adopted in 1989 the Convention on the Rights of Children and Adolescents and more than 190 countries have ratified it. The […]
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Public Participation in Environmental Decision-Making in Morocco and Jordan – High Atlas Foundation
By Imane Akhezzane Project Manager The Small Grants project of the High Atlas Foundation, which is funded by the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs within the U.S. Department of States aims to encourage the development of innovative, sustainable environmental projects that encourage local sustainable resource management and engage civil society to […]
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Cherries in Morocco
By Stefano Dessena HAF Volunteer Cherry cultivation in Morocco offers almost 15,000 tons of this fruit every year putting the country on the 25th spot in the global producers’ scoreboard.[1] The main production areas are in the High Atlas Mountains and […]
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Even a Stone Can Make a Change
Written by Khomenko Ekaterina HAF Volunteer Land degradation is a large issue for Morocco. The Atlas Mountains dominate the central part of the country, explaining why much of the landscape is mountainous with slopes that gradually transition into plateaus and valleys, which are very dry during the summer. Even such, dry areas can be made […]
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In the Hospitality of Haf Nurseries
By Hajiba Boumasmar HAF Intern I had the pleasure of accompanying Said, HAF Project Manager; Hassan, an assistant; and Tobi, a teacher at United World Colleges, on two nursery visits in the Marrakech region. As someone who has always been passionate about agriculture and the environment, the nursery visits had a positive impact on my […]