The project “Monitoring and Protection of Shore and Meadow Birds in Morocco” was completed at the end of 2025 after six months of implementation. It forms part of the biodiversity strategy of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature and the activities of the Netherlands Agricultural Network (LAN) team in Rabat. Much of their work focuses is on the sustainable use of biodiversity in agriculture. This project enabled the team to specifically support the shared commitments of Morocco and the Netherlands to conserve biodiversity and the protection of migratory species.
Morocco and the Netherlands are both located along the East Atlantic Flyway, one of the world’s most important migration routes for waterbirds. Every year, millions of birds migrate between Europe and Africa, using wetlands along this flyway as breeding, stopover and wintering sites. Many species that breed in the Netherlands depend on Moroccan wetlands during the winter period, including the Black-tailed Godwit, known in Dutch as the “Grutto”, the national bird of the Netherlands and an important species for Dutch biodiversity policy.
Beeld: © LAN Rabat
Addressing gaps in bird monitoring capacity
One of the key findings that led to the development of the Dutch-funded project was the limited capacity for systematic bird monitoring in Morocco. At the time, the number of trained observers able to carry out regular counts and collect reliable, standardized data was estimated at around 100 nationwide, which significantly reduced the usefulness of available information for wetland management, conservation planning and policy-making.
The citizen science project therefore placed strong emphasis on capacity building of volunteers, with the objective of reducing these gaps by training a new generation of bird observers. The aim was not only to increase the number of people involved in monitoring activities, but also to improve the quality, consistency and long-term use of the data collected.
Beeld: © LAN Rabat
Partnership-driven training in priority wetlands
The project was designed and implemented in close collaboration with the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF), a key national authority on biodiversity and wetland management, together with WWF and the scientific institution of the university Mohamed V of Rabat. These partners were actively involved in shaping the project approach, identifying priority sites and ensuring alignment with national strategies and international commitments.
Within this partnership framework, three intensive training sessions were organized, each combining classroom instruction with practical fieldwork. These trainings took place in three strategic Ramsar sites representing different ecological contexts along the Moroccan coast: Smir Lagoon on the Mediterranean coast, Merja Zerga Lagoon on the Atlantic coast and Sidi Boughaba Lake in the central Atlantic zone.
More than 70 participants included students, early-career scientists, staff from the Agence Nationale des Eaux et Forêts, site managers and members of civil society organizations. They were trained in bird identification, population estimation, survey techniques, data recording and reporting, as well as in wetland ecology and management. As a result, the project significantly increased the number of qualified observers capable of contributing to national and international monitoring programs.
Beeld: © LAN Rabat
Tangible and structuring results
Beyond training activities, the project delivered several concrete and lasting results.
Four national conservation action plans were developed: three focused on priority species of particular importance to the Netherlands, the Black-tailed Godwit (Grutto), the Northern Lapwing and the Eurasian Curlew, and one multispecies action plan for shorebirds. These plans provide a clear overview of threats, conservation objectives and recommended measures, and now serve as technical reference documents for the relevant Moroccan authorities (ANEF).
In addition, the first atlas of wintering shore and meadow birds in Morocco was produced. This atlas compiles up-to-date data on species distribution, population trends, key sites and major pressures affecting birds and their habitats. It constitutes an important tool for decision makers, site managers and conservation practitioners, supporting more informed planning and management of wetlands.
Beeld: © LAN Rabat
Building on success: continuation in 2026
Building on the positive results achieved in 2025, a follow-up project is planned for 2026 as part of LAN Rabat’s activity plan. This next phase will extend the training approach to additional priority wetlands across the country, further expand the network of trained observers and improve geographical coverage, including sites of importance for priority species such as the Grutto.
Through this continuity, LAN Rabat aims to consolidate the results achieved, support long-term capacity development and reinforce its role in implementing the Dutch Ministry’s biodiversity strategy. More broadly, the project contributes to strengthening sustainable cooperation between Morocco and the Netherlands in support of migratory birds, wetlands and biodiversity conservation along the East Atlantic Flyway.
Beeld: © LAN Rabat
More information
For more information about this project or the work of the LAN team in Rabat, please send an email to: rab-lvvn@minbuza.nl.