Sustainable settlements and transport Boualam Othmane

Assignment 1: Case study development conflit

Marchica Urban and Tourism Development Project in the Northeast

of Morocco: Conflict and Analysis

Introduction:
Given its natural, geographical and ecological potential, the support space for the Marchica
Lagoon development conflict is conducive to the development of tourism. However, it has long
suffered from several ills: pollution, lack of infrastructure, illegal activities, etc. This is why the
need for a structuring project is needed in this space.
The choice is focused on a project of urban and tourist development that erects the site of the
lagoon in a renowned tourist site. This is also part of the new urbanism mode known as "project
urbanism", which emerged in Morocco as an alternative to the regulatory urbanism mode
(2016). The agency created under Law No. 25-10, and charged with implementing this
megaproject, was confronted with a protest movement of the local population just after the
appearance of the development plan.
It is therefore necessary to understand the reasons for the protests of local residents even if their
space requires urgent development. The specificity of this conflict is that it concerns both urban
and rural spaces articulated around a lagoon.
How does this reality, in addition to the touristic nature of the project and its spatial influence,
shape the space of mobilization and the diffusion of the conflict?
We will first discuss, as briefly as possible, the spatial and socio-economic context of the project
support area before addressing the conflict around the development of this lagoon (the role of
the main actors, the protest modalities, spatial diffusion ...).

1. The spatial and socio-economic context of the Marchica site: a need for
development and a willingness to convert to formal activities
The analysis of the context in which the conflict evolves aims to determine the main
characteristics of the support space of the Marchica development project. It is a question of
highlighting as well the natural attractions as the problems of this space which are behind this
project.

Marchica: a site of ecological and economic interest

The space-support of the conflict, which spreads on parts of the territory of four communes of
which two are urban, is a space with ecological and economic potential unique considering the
following factors:
- the existence of the Marchica lagoon, which is the second largest lagoon of the Mediterranean
Sea (Its shape is semi elliptic 25 km long by 7.5 km, and its maximum depth reaches 7 m). A
dune cord separates this lagoon from the Mediterranean Sea, which communicated with each
other by a natural canal;
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- the existence of beaches extending over several kilometers;

- the ecological interest of the site: this lagoon is a site of biological interest, classified
RAMSAR site since 2005.
It has a great diversity of flora and fauna habitats, a resting, nesting and wintering area for birds
of global interest and important fisheries resources;
- the proximity of the irrigated plain of Bou Areg.

Figure 1: Marchica Lagoon and Transport Infrastructure

This area has a significant human concentration (250,000 inhabitants in 2014). It is well served
by transport infrastructure (Figure 1): two airports, two ports, Mediterranean bypass, a railway
and two national roads. This offers interesting possibilities for a diversified tourist development
(seaside, ecotourism and agrotourism).

The Marchica: a space that requires a development

The space around the Marchica lagoon has long suffered from pollution and other problems.
The sewers of nearby urban centers and wild dumps are the main sources of ecosystem
degradation in this lagoon.

Photo 1: Aspects of pollution of the lagoon before clearance operations

Source: A.A.S.L.M, 2012
In addition, the dune cord of this lagoon was known, for decades, for its illegal activities. It has
formed a base for the smuggling of various goods including drugs to the north shore of the
Sustainable settlements and transport Boualam Othmane

Mediterranean. A good part of the population of the centers bordering the president of Melilla,
subscribed to smuggling activities whose annual value of transactions is estimated at about 500
million Euros. Associations in this area in particular played a key role in the final eradication
of drug trafficking in 2006.

A desire for development and conversion to the formal activities of the Marchica
site
The Marchica development project reflects a real desire to remedy the environmental problems
of this lagoon. The choice fell on a tourist and urbanistic project. The agency for the
development of the site of the lagoon of Marchica (AASLM), created under Law No. 25-10,
was responsible for implementing this megaproject. It is a program of development of the
lagoon in large tourist site which mobilizes investments estimated at 46 billion DH, to realize
in tranches between 2009 and 2025 on about 258 ha. Its goal is to build this site into a tourist
center that respects the environment through the enhancement of its socio-economic and natural
potential (coastline, lagoon, etc.) and the safeguarding of its fragile ecological system.

2. Social Constraints of the Marchica Development Project: The Conflict

The desire to remedy the great evils of the space around the Marchica lagoon faces social
constraints. The nature of the real estate and economic activities of this space is not well suited
to such a development project. The development plan triggers a protest movement framed by
local associations. How is the mobilization against this project organized and spread?

Civil society faces the Marchica development project: a questionable

development plan triggers conflict
Rumors accompanied the lagoon development project. The population bordering this lagoon
had denounced the opacity shown by the project leaders. The installation of the headquarters of
the Marchica-Med company, on the near-island of Atalayoun far from urban centers, the lack
of communication and the prohibition of access to certain sites, are behaviors among others,
interpreted by associative actors as signs reflecting "dishonest intentions" towards the local
population and their real estate properties. The promulgation of Law 25.10 at the BOP comes
to reinforce the fears of the local population in particular.
But it was especially the publication of Marchica's Special Management Plan (P.A.S) project
that triggered the protests against the project. The population began demonstrating when the
AASLM seized the concerned persons of the subject of the investigation. It can be considered
that all the opponents do not denounce the project, but rather the manner in which it is
established, precisely with regard to the possible use of the expropriation procedure, well
underlined in Law 25.10. Why did this plan provoke so much anger and fear among the local
population?
In accordance with the provisions of Law 25.10 (Art.1), a so-called special development plan
for the Marchica Lagoon site is established. It appeared in November 2011 to give rise to a one-
month public inquiry (from December 8 to January 6, 2012). In addition to the seven project
sites, this plan contains seven major areas and sectors.
The Negotiated Settlement Sector (SAN4), the Delayed Development Sector (SAD) and the
Strategic Reserve Perimeter (PRS) are a source of concern for the population concerned, as they
Sustainable settlements and transport Boualam Othmane

refer to property rights restrictions. for a reason of public utility. For the first sector, the owners
are exposed to an expropriation procedure under Law No. 25.10 if they consider to their land a
use not accepted by the AASLM; for the second and the third, the rightholders cannot freely
enjoy their land on an undefined date.
The delay in the publication of the final development plan, the persistence of the suspension of
real estate transactions and the authorizations to build and subdivide have had negative effects
on the social and economic situation of the residents.

The revendications
The preservation of real estate properties and the consultation of the local population are the
main demands of the protesters.
- The preservation of land and property properties: 95% of the opponents believe that real estate
is the most affected by the development project; the landscape ranks second with 25%, as for
the impact of the project on natural resources, the opponents take no concern.
- Obtaining written guarantees from the director of the agency, adequate compensation of the
population concerned instead of being relocated in small apartments in the city of Selouane 10
km from the current location of the residence;
- Rectification of certain articles of Law 25.10, especially those referring to the use of the
expropriation procedure;
- The participation and consultation of the local population to take into account their
expectations and needs. It is a matter of effectively integrating civil society into the decision-
making process, thus enabling it to inform and discuss the social, environmental and economic
issues of the projects envisaged.

Organization of mobilization and actions

The main actions taken to protest against the development project, consist of spontaneous
marches to public institutions, including the headquarters of the AASLM in Nador.

Photos illustrating one of the protest marches organized by the local population to the
AASLM headquarters on November 03, 2011.
Source: Photo taken by website Nadorcity.com on 3/11/2011
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Conclusion:
The Marchica development conflict has evolved from a concentrated micro-conflict in the city
of Nador (capital of the province) to a meso-conflict, affecting the other communes
concerned, although it is limited in space and tends towards an imposed appeasement:
- the mobilization space is relatively important. It extends over the territory of several
municipalities, even if it is limited to the only zone of development defined by the agency,
which constitutes the support space of the project. The spatial diffusion of the mobilization
depends largely on the spatial form of this space. The southern limit of this zone allows the
distinction between two zones where the intensity of mobilization is very different: beyond
this limit the mobilization becomes very weak. The attachment of residents to their real estate
properties whose safeguard seems to be their main claim may explain this finding. In the area
of mobilization, the city of Nador, as the capital of the province and enjoying an economic
and social weight, was the source of the conflict and the main place of its space (space of
conflict).
- the associations which had a local character (of district in general) regroup themselves by
creating a grouping of sixteen associations which are distributed on the territory of the four
communes concerned by the project. This has given rise to a feeling of collective belonging
amplifying the intensity of the conflict. For further support, these associations appealed to a
human rights association that established a petition of protest. The opposition movement is
weakened and the dialogue has ended in failure.
The public development policy is to be reviewed. This conflict of planning and the resulting
blockage invite us to question the way in which the planning policy of the territory in
Morocco is practiced. This policy of thinking territory "from above" refers to a lack of
democratization.
Admittedly, the balance of power is in favor of the agency, which has imposed its decisions to
reach the end of its objectives, but the future success of this project cannot be assured without
an effective adhesion of the local population to this project. The contribution of the latter in
terms of constructive proposals should be more influential.

My opinion about the case:

For me, this is not the first time there has been such a conflict in Morocco, In Morocco all
sectors suffer from the control of large companies and venture capitalists without respecting
and protecting the rights of citizens.
The protests of these citizens about this project did not come out of Nothingness. They know
very well what is going on behind the scenes and have benefited from previous experiences
that have taken place in various regions of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Sometimes, illiteracy and less awareness put the citizen in the vulnerable position, but what
can he do as long as he knows that claiming his rights may put him in prison without reason.
Sustainable settlements and transport Boualam Othmane

Website:
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ath%5B%5D=4278