Province of Khénifra

The Province of Khénifra is one of the 4 provinces Morocco groins of the area of Meknès-Tafilalet created according to the Dahir of 1997.

She is regarded as the pearl of the Moroccan mountains to the reddish colors and especially capital of the lakes.

Lat: 32° 55 ' 48 NR , Length: 5° 39 ' 36 W

Surface: : 12320 km ²

Administrative division

The province of Khénifra was creates in 1973, it concerns the area Meknès-Tafilalet. Provinces bordering: Khémisset, Ifrane, Blessed Mellal, Province of Khouribga, Errachidia, Boulmane.

The province of Khénifra is divided administratively into 3 Municipalité S, 3 circle S and 12 Caïdat S. It counts 38 communes including 3 urban (Khénifra, Me rirt and Midelt) and 35 rural.

Under areas are: Aguelmous (54050), Has Ishak (54100), Boumia (54150), Khenifra-Amalou (54004), Khénifra Principal (54000), Mibladen (54373), Midelt (54350), Me rirt (54450), Taakit (54374), Ouaoumana (54102), Tighassaline (54003).

Geography

Province of Khénifra in the middle of the Average Atlas

The province of Khénifra is integrated at the same time in the High Atlas and the central plate, which explains its broken Relief where the mountain and the plates alternate whose altitude is variable (Relief in stage) of which typical characteristics of the Average Atlas:

1 Stage colliéen (800 m)
2 Stage subatlassien (mountain of 800 m to 1600 m)
3 Stage, atlassien (of 1660 m to 2800 m)

Three quite distinct natural areas characterize this province :

1. Dir in the center, the Méseta: Rigid base Hercynien which forms the substratum of the central plates of Spain and Western Morocco. The old solid masses of the Limousin, Ardenne and Iberian Méseta, the plates limestones of Quercy or Large Causses preserved vast plane extents (Géogr. gén., 1966, p. 410 (Encyclopedia of the Pleiad).

Characteristic of Méseta or Messeta:

A paleozoic base (mésetas) since Cambrien until Carboniferous the, primarily made up one by sedimentary grounds with an intense bimodal volcanic activity in Viséen. This base was structured by orogenesis hercynienne responsible also for the installation of many intrusions the granitoid ones: (source) Onnym.

A cover, formed of the primarily carbonated, Mesozoic and cenozoic grounds comprising two structural units:

In the West, the causse : Vast and high plateau calcareous of the Average Atlas and the High Atlas, arid and dug deep valleys, offering thin pastures to sheep.

2. The Dir Atlassien: Who with the advantage of containing important water resources and of offering relatively rich grounds; therefore, favourable with agriculture.

The central part of the Province, which corresponds administratively to the circle of El Kbab, is not other than part of Dir of the Moyen Atlas. It is a covered mountainous region of forests where the Srou wadi, affluent of Oum er-Rebiâ, and the Chbouka Wadi take their sources.

The area catchment of high Moulouya corresponds administratively to the circle of Midelt, limited to the South by the High Atlas culminating with the Jbel Ayachi (3757 m), and Moâsker (3277 m), and in north by the causse Atlassienne (calcareous plate, often corrugated, on dry and covered surface of broken stones of the Average Atlas). This basin is rich by the diversity of its landscapes.

The major part of the circle of Khénifra extends to the West from Oum er-Rebia with light advanced on the Moyen Atlas coarsely limited by the Oued Srou and the watershed uniting this last to the sources from Oum er-Rebia.

3. The méseta Atlassienne corresponds to the western part of Khénifra. The forest of Cèdre S of Ajdir Ezayane to 30 km of Khénifra is considered among largest cedar plantation of the world (one finds there cedars old of more than two millenia). The forest of Ajdir constitutes a priceless richness by the quantity and quality of sound Bois. Many cascades, as well as lakes of an exceptional beauty, like the lake Aguelmame Aziza, the Lake Aguelmame Sidi Ali, the lake Tiglmamine, Aguelmame Miaami, Aguelmame Ouidir, Aguelmame Abakhane close to Elkbab, Aguelmame Has Ichou between Elkbab and Boumia, the lake of Ouiouane to 34 km of Me Rirt on the road of Ain Leuh, this artificial lake supplied with the neighbouring sources. Altitude of 1600 m, having a Surface of 20 ha (rich in watery vegetation, the Poisson S are abundant there). The realization of a hydroelectric stopping Tanafnit El Borj of a working installed capacity of 2 X 9 MW.

The realization of this project will have an economic impact on the level of job creation and the improvement of the road infrastructure which will give a breath to tourism of mountain. The river Oum Errabiaa occurs to 40 km of Khénifra. Its flow borders that of the French river the the Seine with 114 m ³ /s. the area of Khénifra constitutes a water tower for part of Morocco in particular on the side of the méseta energy of Tadla towards Abda-Doukala.

Population

The population is in majority Berbère, the spoken language is the Tamazight, the demography of the province distributed as follows:

Urban population: : 273000.
rural Population: : 250000.
Total population: : 523000.

Climate

The Climat of this area is continental what influences the seasonal amplitudes thermal, and even day laborers. A Hiver rigorous succeeds a hot summer. The Pluviométrie varies according to the areas between 400 and 700 mm/an on average.

Precipitations, in winter in the form of snow, are abundant on the plate of Bekrite, the collar of Zad and the High Atlas. The combination of the temperature and pluviometry is likely to create favorable conditions with belts of vegetation: thus, one will see following one another according to the Altitude, of the forests of Kharroubier or Caroubier, Chêne S greens, and Cèdre S ( cedrus atlantica ), Genévrier S, tetraclinis-articulata or Thuja (Elaaraar).

Fauna and Flora

The flora and Moroccan fauna are of an exceptional richness.

On the ornithological level, the mountains Top and Average Atlas and the the Sahara, constitute a refuge of predilection fleeing Europe to settle there because the factors of pressure to knowing the dynamic ones of the populations and pollution act on the behavior of birds etc… The list of the threatened birds established by the European commission for protection of nature, Morocco is not saved by this phenomenon, the list of the Moroccan birds threatened of extinction and also alarming if one takes account of the list of the birds present at Morocco presented by Mr. Lahcen Chillasse. List which inserts to us in a paradisiac world; moreover the inheritance of the wild animals is also threatened.

A fauna hunting (which refers to the Chasse) important and diversified, also contributes, with the richness of this Région.

It made it possible, on the one hand, to create a score of leasings of Hunting rights (the most frequent species are: the Wild boar, the Perdrix will gambra, the Lièvre, the Palombe, the Chacal and the Renard, the wolf), and in addition, with the aim of safeguard the moufflon which constitutes a species rare and particular to the mountainous region of the High Atlas, a reserve was created on the level of the area of Tounfite, on an extent of: 20805 ha with prevalence of cedars and Genévrier S.

It should be noted that the last lion of the Atlas was cut down in 1922, close to Taddert (northern slope of Tizi Tichka), in 1942 according to J. Pussy. It was a trophy extremely sought and victim of a intensive Braconnage, whereas it had already died out in Tunisia and Algérie a few years before. Like the panther, éradiquée with the wire of the centuries by the Romans (for their gladiators), the Moroccan sultans who maintained the diplomatic relations going back to the 8th century with the kings of France in order to enrich their zoos by exotic animals, the last lions of the Atlas were exterminated by the French colonists, there remain only some specimens which live with the zoo of Témara, and in France (Montpellier). It still represented one of them there by the carved lion of Ifrane which makes us think at least that there existed one day of the lions to the Average Atlas, immortalized in Ifrane by this enigmatic sculpture.

According to the testimony of Mr. Francis Boulbes:

" Last panther killed in the area of Immouzer Marmoucha of Almis in 1974, naturalized in Meknès (where I saw it). The lynx caracal is undoubtedly still present. In any case, somebody whom I know well out of of killed Missour worms in the years 1980, and I have myself of it considering one here 4 or 5 years towards Almis of Guigou (Province of Boulemane). I on the occasion to observe it lengthily (upright in the middle of a field under the light of the headlights) I know fauna and I am sure that it was a lynx (are there others lynx which the caracal in Morocco?)".

It is to be also announced that our famous monkey of cruelty Magot which gives pleasure with the visitors in the areas of Ifrane and Azrou needs the guards and not donors of peanuts… The behavior of these Nest eggs can be only one sign of imbalance of the Biotope, without forgetting the Rook victim of the superstitions belongs to the threatened birds. The threat on the biodiversity cannot be solved with conferences in the luxurious hotels but by subtle and operational reflections.

Certain animal species are already absent from Moroccan forest landscape since strong a long time, in particular the large mammals or the animals of big size (lion, Bubale, Addax, the Lynx caracal disappeared 100 years ago Oryx, cheetah, panther (Panthera pardus), gazelle Dama, ostrich, wild guinea fowl, the Ibis bald person, the hyena mottled etc…), the list is long. An ecological disaster will be irreversible, if the government and O.N.G (Organizations nongovernmental) do not set up a programme of safeguarding of this national heritage. The teaching of environmental philosophy in our schools is a requirement which must be essential as a discipline with whole share, as Anatol Lieven said it: “the greatest danger to planet is practically ignored by our media. Not only it is not very with the mode, but in more it is located too far in time”.

Michel R. Tarrier, in his test of environmental philosophy, exposes a dark, apocalyptic vision vis-a-vis the climate and the disastrous consequences which will affect our ecological system.

Forest

the dead cedar plantation makes the joy of the Scierie S…

The Forest of Khénifra, by the diversity of its richness (hydrological, faunal and floristic) deserves a very detailed attention, therefore an awakening with respect to this inheritance which is likely one day to disappear. A sensitization program of the populations must be essential in order to put an end to the irrational exploitation of the forest.

The forest of the Average Atlas and particularly in the area of Khénifra occupies a place privileged in Biodiversité of its fauna and its Flore.

The Moyen Atlas seems a mountainous chain not populated by the man. Indeed, except for Taza in North and Khénifra in the South, only of small urban centres settled with the periphery of the solid mass.

This solid mass is exceptional by the diversity of its fauna, the exubérance of its flora, and the beauty of its rocks and its geological sites. From its situation and the physical characteristics of its medium, the area of the Moyen Atlas conceals important wealths of renewable natural resources: watery, edaphic S, floristic, faunistic, forest. Indeed, it constitutes an moist environment (water tower of Morocco) favorable to the surge of the birds coming from continent of Europe seen the geographical location of Morocco which constitutes a migratory passage of the birds (corridor of Gibraltar).

The grounds most advanced, are diversified there and richest, but also, locally, among the most eroded; the flora and fauna are very rich there, and they comprise a great number of endemic, rare or very remarkable species; the Végétation there is very diversified; the " Phytocoenosis s" there is luxuriant and offers the most important forest potentialities of the Morocco; except those of the arid and Saharan regions, all the types of Moroccan natural ecosystems are represented there.

However, from many plant species and animal disappeared from this area; others there are threatened of disappearance or became very rare; the natural ecosystem S, in particular the foresters among them, undergo a strong pressure anthropozoogene; some were destroyed, others are in dysfunction in addition to the dynamics of the populations which is added like negative factor for the ecosystem, we are thus confronted with environmental problems as we explains it Xavier Heude.

Cedar plantations of the Atlas

The Cèdre of the Atlas deserves much attention from where need for descriptions of certain characteristics.

the Cedar plantation in all its states by Michele Tarrier.

Size : 50 m
Port : more set up slim than at the cedar of the Lebanon, especially when it is young.
Branches : shorter than at the cedar of Lebanon and ascending.
Bark : dark gray clear which is cracked into growing old.
Needles : glaucous green (bluish)
Cones : 6 cm length, with often a small hollow in the center.

The cedar of the Atlas ( Cedrus atlantica ) is the noble forest gasoline of the Morocco, appreciated for its values economic and biogeographic. The cedar plantations, of an total surface area of 131.800 ha, occupy a choice place in the Paysage forest Morrocan. They are always presented in Futaie, generally with rich and very heterogeneous floristic procession, being able to be dominated by herbaceous species, shrubs or trees: Quercus rotundifolia, Quercus faginea, Juniperus will thurifera, Ilex aquifolium, Cytisus battandieri, Cistus laurifolius, Daphne laureola, Crataegus laciniata, Ribes uva-contracted, Berberis hispanica, Bupleurum spinosum.

In the cedar plantations of the Moyen Atlas were listed more than 260 species of Arthropode S and 30 species of birds nicheurs, is one of the strongest proportions of sedentary species of birds of all the Moroccan forests.

These cedar plantations are unfortunately seriously threatened by a number of ravageurs, of which the frightening processionary catarpilar (Thaumetopoeapit yocampa), the Tordeuse of the cedar (Acleris undulana) various species of Scolyte S (Blastophagus piniperda, Scolytus numidicus), in addition to the turning into a desert and the abusive exploitation of this noble tree which is likely one day to disappear from the landscape atlassien.

the holm oak

Associations for the safeguarding of nature

Personalities working for the safeguard of nature

Jean Delacre: Personality having contributed to make us become aware of the loss of biodiversity in the Atlases thanks to its instinct of naturalist devoted to the Nature of Morocco.

A passion devouring for the photo naturalist doubled of a great experiment of the ground made of Jean Delacre, the close friend, the accomplice of several Moroccan forwardings of Michel Tarrier: initiators of the House of the Ecology and the Ecosystems of Morocco. The wish of the first author to apply the millenium precept which “an image is worth five thousand words” (Confucius) found in competences of the second author, matter to hope for of this site rigorous a illustrator quality. In Belgium, its country of origin, Jean Delacre was from time immemorial implied in actions aiming to the conservation of the natural capital for which it has work for the rehabilitation of the habitat of Euphydryas aurinia, which been worth the recognition of the Official Authorities and the Interbrew Price to him for the Environment 2004. Morocco, a kingdom of biodiversity, ecosystems and problems.

Michel Tarrier is entomologist since his childhood. From 1992 to date, in collaboration with the scientific Institute of Reduction (University Mohammed V), it adds up: 2000 days of ground and observations in Morocco, with a million kilometers of roads and tracks traversed, thousands of photographs, the publication of about fifty articles on the Lépidoptère S and the ecosystems of this country and the management of a data bank and a complete cartography of the Rhopalocère S and Zygaeninae of some: 5000 checked and brought up to date references, Jean Delacre co-signatory for the MEEM (House of the Ecology and the Ecosystems of Morocco) Mohammed Drihem for the Association of the Friends of the Valley of Ifrane.

Zayane culture

See too

High Atlas
Average Atlas
Berber Meknès-Tafilalet
Morocco
Ouiouane
Kaf sour
Aguelmous
Immouzer Marmoucha
Culture zayane
Zayanes
Morocco précolonial
Moroccan Political parties

Photographs

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