ZAATOT, for Man and Monkey in the High-Atlas
Current actions
Several actions are underway to promote Barbary Macaque populations. Monkey habitat conservation and restoration projects, studies and monitoring of damage to crops or population dynamics. It was later added an ecotourism component to raise awareness and discover monkeys and the Ourika Valley.
Conservation :
On the initiative of the Toubkal National Park and in collaboration with the Provincial Directorate of Water and Forests, a 300 ha ZMD protection zone has been delimited: its purpose is to limit the grazing of goat herds in order to allow regeneration. spontaneous plant cover, in exchange for financial compensation to breeders.
To date, the recognition of the breeders' association responsible for monitoring compliance with the prohibition is in the process of being recognized by the services of the caïdat.
The ZMD has already been planted with 2 fenced plots of 20 ha of oak trees grown in the nursery. Studies are underway to estimate the recovery rate of trees (41% for planting winter 2018-2019)
It remains to test assisted direct sowing: for this, a harvest of acorns in November-December is planned in order to plant them directly, in the plots and according to the protocols defined by the last students. s who have completed their internship since 2017 (see briefs and reports below). Mohamed Benaddi, local administrator of ZAATOT and guide, proposes to do this to involve volunteers from the community, alongside the association.
Restoration of the holm oak forest
Research
Crop Damage, Dynamic Demography
After several studies conducted by Pr. Mohammed Znari and Salwa, from the Semlalia Faculty of Sciences in Marrakech, which concerned the diet and the numbers of the population of magot monkeys in the Ourika Valley (see page of actions carried out ), other lines of research have been carried out:
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the study of the damage of monkeys in crops: survey of farmers and direct observation of the depredations of monkeys,
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the dynamic demography of the group of cultures, to estimate the composition of the group and its birth rate: individual identification (catalogue of portraits) and demographic profile (by gender and age)
Ecotourism
Setting up naturalist and ecotourism hikes
Sensitization of the population and tourists to the existence of the Barbary Macaque, threatened and to the necessary sharing of space: man must be able to live from his economic activities and the monkey find a habitat-refuge there.
The first objective is that the community feels pride in living in a rich area in contact with heritage species and that it therefore feels a certain responsibility with regard to their protection. This is why conducting naturalist training with tourist guides, major players in Setti-Fatma, seems to us a priority.
The second objective is to enhance the existence of this rich nature and the monkey in order to derive some profit from it in terms of tourism. The goal is to bring in and retain a new clientele curious about nature and local culture to enjoy the show without altering these riches.
