Morocco

C

Natural Resources

Morocco’s resources are primarily agricultural, but mineral resources are also significant. Among the latter the most important is phosphate rock, of which Morocco has 75 per cent of world reserves; other minerals include coal, cobalt, iron, lead, manganese, petroleum, silver, tin, and zinc.

The soils along the coast of Morocco are halomorphic and humus-carbonate; inland areas have podzolic and steppe soils. The southern part of the country is mainly desert.

D

Plants and Animals

The mountainous regions of Morocco contain extensive areas of forest, including large stands of cork oak, evergreen oak, juniper, cedar, fir, and pine. Except for areas under cultivation, the plains are usually covered with scrub brush and alfalfa grass. On the plain of Sous, near the southern border, is a large forest of argan, a kind of thorny tree found principally in Morocco.

Moroccan wildlife represents a mingling of European and African species. Of the animals characteristic of Europe, the fox, rabbit, otter, and squirrel abound; of predominantly African types, the gazelle, wild boar, panther, baboon, wild goat, and horned viper are common.

E

Environmental Concerns

Population pressures are leading to soil erosion and desertification, as marginal lands are farmed and ground cover is destroyed by overgrazing. Morocco has a low rate of deforestation relative to other African countries, however, with only 0.3 per cent (1990-1996) of its forests destroyed each year. Forests cover 8.6 per cent (1995) of the country's area.

Morocco irrigates 2.8 per cent of its land (1997)—one of the highest percentages in Africa. The country uses more than 90 per cent of its fresh water for agricultural production. Available drinking water has been further limited by pollution of freshwater sources with raw sewage and industrial waste. Periodic droughts contribute to water shortages in some areas of the country, and the problem of water scarcity is expected to worsen as Morocco's population continues to grow.

Reserves and national parks cover 0.7 per cent of Morocco's total land area (1997). The country is home to 39 threatened animal species. The government has ratified international agreements protecting biodiversity, endangered species, wetlands, and the ozone layer. The country has also signed treaties limiting hazardous waste, marine dumping, and nuclear testing. Morocco is party to the World Heritage Convention and participates in the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Man and the Biosphere Program.

III

Population

The original population of Morocco was Berber, and about three quarters of all present-day Moroccans are of Berber descent. Arabs, who constitute the bulk of the inhabitants of the larger cities, form the second-largest ethnic group. Considerable intermarriage among Arabs, Berbers, and the country’s small number of black Africans has broken down differences among ethnic groups. Morocco has about 100,000 European inhabitants, most of them French. The approximately 12,000 Jews stem mainly from families that have inhabited the area for centuries. The population is more or less evenly balanced between urban and rural dwellers.

A

Population Characteristics

Morocco has a population of 34,272,968 (2008 estimate), including the disputed territory of Western Sahara (population, 1994 census, 252,146). The country’s overall population density is about 77 people per sq km (199 per sq mi).