Increasing pressure, declining water and climate change in north-eastern Morocco
- The coastal stretch of north-eastern Mediterranean Morocco holds vitally important ecological, social, and economic functions. The implementation of large-scale luxury tourism resorts shall push socio-economic development and facilitate the shift from a mainly agrarian to a service economy. Sufficient water availability and intact beaches are among the key requirements for the successful realization of regional development plans. The water situation is already critical, additional water-intense sectors could overstrain the capacity of water resources. Further, coastal erosion caused by sea-level rise is projected. Regional climate change is observable, and must be included in regional water management. Long-term climate trends are assessed for the larger region (Moulouya basin) and for the near-coastal zone at Saidia. The amount of additional water demand is assessed for the large-dimensioned Saidia resort; including the monthly, seasonal and annual tourist per capita water need under inclusion of irrigated golf courses and gardenThe coastal stretch of north-eastern Mediterranean Morocco holds vitally important ecological, social, and economic functions. The implementation of large-scale luxury tourism resorts shall push socio-economic development and facilitate the shift from a mainly agrarian to a service economy. Sufficient water availability and intact beaches are among the key requirements for the successful realization of regional development plans. The water situation is already critical, additional water-intense sectors could overstrain the capacity of water resources. Further, coastal erosion caused by sea-level rise is projected. Regional climate change is observable, and must be included in regional water management. Long-term climate trends are assessed for the larger region (Moulouya basin) and for the near-coastal zone at Saidia. The amount of additional water demand is assessed for the large-dimensioned Saidia resort; including the monthly, seasonal and annual tourist per capita water need under inclusion of irrigated golf courses and garden areas. A shift of climate patterns is observed, a lengthening of the dry summer season, and as well a significant decline of annual precipitation. Thus, current water scarcity is mainly human-induced; however, climate change will aggravate the situation. As a consequence, severe environmental damage due to water scarcity is likely and could impinge on the quality of local tourism. The re-adjustment of current management routines is therefore essential. Possible adjustments are discussed and the analysis concludes with management recommendations for innovative regional water management of tourism facilities.…
Verfasserangaben: | Vera Tekken, Luís Fílípe Carvalho da CostaORCiDGND, Jürgen KroppORCiDGND |
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DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11852-013-0234-7 |
ISSN: | 1400-0350 |
Titel des übergeordneten Werks (Englisch): | Journal of coastal conservation : planning and management |
Verlag: | Springer |
Verlagsort: | New York |
Publikationstyp: | Wissenschaftlicher Artikel |
Sprache: | Englisch |
Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung: | 2013 |
Erscheinungsjahr: | 2013 |
Datum der Freischaltung: | 26.03.2017 |
Freies Schlagwort / Tag: | Adaptation; Climate change; Coastal zone; Luxury tourism; North-eastern Morocco; Water demand |
Band: | 17 |
Ausgabe: | 3 |
Seitenanzahl: | 10 |
Erste Seite: | 379 |
Letzte Seite: | 388 |
Fördernde Institution: | project "ACCMA-Adaptation to Climate Change in Morocco" as part of the program 'Adaptation aux Changements Climatiques en Afrique (ACCA)'; International Development Research Centre Canada (IDRC); UK Department for International Development (DFID) |
Organisationseinheiten: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Geowissenschaften |
Peer Review: | Referiert |
Name der Einrichtung zum Zeitpunkt der Publikation: | Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät / Institut für Erd- und Umweltwissenschaften |