Morocco Strengthens Its Environmental Leadership and Foils an Algerian Diplomatic Maneuver During the Ramsar Conference in Zimbabwe

By Meryem Hafiani – ALDAR

In light of global efforts to protect the environment, the city of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe hosted, from July 23 to 31, 2025, the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, with the participation of over 170 member countries. This international environmental event became a new platform for reaffirming Morocco’s position as an active environmental diplomatic force, in contrast to Algeria’s spectacular diplomatic failure, as it failed to push through its political agenda within a strictly environmental framework.

Morocco stood out during the conference as a responsible and committed party, actively participating in discussions and drafting recommendations, and contributing to the adoption of the Ramsar Strategic Plan 2025–2034, which serves as a global roadmap for the sustainable management of wetlands in the face of climate change and biodiversity loss.

This achievement further strengthens Morocco’s standing as a trusted environmental actor and was crowned by its election to the Standing Committee of the Convention for the 2025–2028 term, representing North Africa — a testament to its recognized role in global environmental governance.

In contrast, Algeria attempted — outside the scientific and environmental scope of the conference — to push a politically motivated draft resolution, aiming to introduce new criteria for listing or delisting sites from the Ramsar list, in a move clearly designed to serve its hostile agenda against Morocco’s territorial integrity.

However, this maneuver was widely rejected, hitting a wall of vigilance and well-calibrated Moroccan diplomatic action, backed by significant solidarity from member states. The result was the withdrawal of the Algerian proposal and a renewed isolation of its diplomacy on the international stage.

Conference participants emphasized the need to preserve the scientific and technical nature of the Ramsar Convention and firmly rejected any attempts to politicize its work — a clear message to Algeria to respect the founding principles of international environmental agreements. Morocco gained broad support thanks to its composed stance and its commitment to calm, responsible dialogue.

Through its advanced environmental strategy, Morocco continues to expand its network of internationally recognized wetlands, which now number 38 Ramsar sites across the Kingdom, from north to south. These areas are rich in biodiversity and serve as vital pathways for migratory birds.

In this context, the city of Mehdia was designated as Morocco’s second Ramsar City, following Ifrane — a step that reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to integrating environmental considerations into urban and territorial planning.

This Moroccan momentum — through both on-the-ground action and strong institutional presence in international forums — fits within a comprehensive vision aligned with the High Royal Directives, which aim to make Morocco a model of environmental diplomacy. This diplomacy blends realism, effectiveness, and respect for international cooperation principles — at a time when Algeria still struggles to find its footing in a space that no longer accommodates fruitless maneuvers.