Seeds of Spring: Good Times in the Dar Taliba School Garden By Pommelien Da Silva Cosme, GDF Morocco Programme Director Our favourite season at the Dar Taliba school garden has arrived: it’s finally Spring! “I love how everything comes to life during this time,” says Dar Taliba gardener Al Housseine. “The garden is full of... Read More »
World Food Day is a global event celebrated annually on 16 October to raise awareness about hunger and the importance of providing access to affordable, nutritious and safe food for all. To celebrate this special day, we organised our second High Atlas Food Market during the Harvest Festival Marrakech to promote biodiversity-friendly and local products and to connect rural producers with urban customers.
Based on the assessment and our visits, we organised 2 Farmer Field Schools in October 2021, on effective livestock management in Imegdal and Aït M’hamed, with a total of 30 farmers. During the workshops, participants developed a seasonal calendar for an overview of major events throughout the year including diseases that occur at specific times, changes in climate, livestock production and condition of the pastures; to analyse the cause and effect between these events. We also discussed animal health, diseases and visited several stables to evaluate and share good hygiene practises such as ensuring good ventilation of stables and not overcrowding indoor animal enclosures.
Together with our partner, Moroccan Biodiversity & Livelihoods Association (MBLA), we have been supporting rural High Atlas cooperatives for the past three years by offering training and advice to help improve their sales and marketing. Based on feedback from cooperative members during previous workshops, we organised a two-day training on financial management and product pricing.
During the months of May and June, we continued our garden training programme at the Dar Taliba school garden with local partner Moroccan Biodiversity & Livelihoods Association. Through practical trainings, the girls learned about pest control and plant health by preparing an organic pesticide with baking soda and black soap. We also held a workshop on the commercialisation of medicinal and aromatic plants, which is an important source of income for local communities in the High Atlas. During this session, the girls were introduced to ways to valorise and transform local plants into marketable products, such as essential oils, herbal teas, soaps and other cosmetic products.
Eight rural cooperatives from different regions of the High Atlas introduced and sold their local products to urban consumers at the event held in Marrakech, which was aimed at promoting biodiversity-friendly local products and supporting community livelihoods.
Community researchers from Ait M’hamed, Imegdal and Oukaïmeden learn about agroecology benefits on soil quality and on the health of plants, animals and humans, and the importance of optimal usage of water through sustainable water management systems.
Members from five community cooperatives in the Azilal region learn new skills to promote their local products online. They learned how to develop an online presence strategy, manage Facebook and Instagram accounts, create interesting content, and more.
Through Farmer Field Schools, Amazigh farmers enhance their knowledge of innovative organic pest, soil and water management techniques and methods to improve productivity and enhance local biodiversity, while maintaining their traditional practices.
Brahim and his family follow the footsteps of their ancestors: the Ait Atta tribe have guided their herds to the luscious high altitude grasslands for as long they can remember. This cultural practice, whereby the agdal is closed during the flowering season, has created a unique and biodiverse ecosystem.
To adapt to travel restrictions, we are carrying out intensive capacity-building programme for our community researchers in the High Atlas, training them in data collection, such as natural and social science survey implementation, and workshop facilitation, amongst others.
Emma reports from Bolivia, as efforts to build much-needed biosand filters for families around La Paz come to halt due to COVID-19. These filters offer an immediate solution to an essential daily need.
A medical team of 60, including paediatricians, gynaecologists, general practitioners, nurses and an optician, visited Imegdal for the two-day medical outreach during the first weekend of March.
The distribution of valuable plants supports the enhancement of rural incomes and decreases harvesting pressure on wild populations, which High Atlas communities often heavily depend on for their livelihoods.
Drawings of local and useful plant products by the students of Dar Taliba are now featured in the Amazigh Household Basket booklet.
We’re excited to invite you to participate in our #MedFoodHeroes Instagram contest as part of the Mediterranean Rooted Everyday campaign.
Agdals have shaped the cultural landscape of the High Atlas mountains through centuries and most probably millenia, maintaining the rangeland and forest resources, while also conserving its biodiversity. Read about agdals here.
The community researchers we work with in Aït M’hamed, Imegdal and Oukaïmeden contribute substantially to research design and implement a significant proportion of our data collection in the field, among others.
Engaging students in local biodiversity conservation efforts and offering opportunities for them to learn and use Amazigh indigenous plant knowledge and practices.
This colourful booklet featuring local and useful plant products selected by the students we work with in the High Atlas includes drawings produced by the students themselves, and more!
Two young mothers join the Biosand filters clean 100 Bolivian families’ water project, working tirelessly to build the biosand filter containers under the heat of the sun.
Supporting local livelihoods and plant conservation in situ, and decreasing harvesting pressure on wild populations in Oukaïmeden.
Held in December, this event provided an important space for exchange among 66 participants in Annamer and 40 participants in Bernat.
The girls have participated in 18 trainings, studying the uses of various plants and working on several permaculture techniques, including making an organic pesticide.
An introduction to some of the traditional practices that shape High Atlas biodiversity and landscapes, maintain a vibrant mosaic of ecosystems and sustain local livelihoods: tawala n anrar, astour, tiwizi, and more!
Over four days, the students actively engaged in participatory conservation actions with the Amazigh communities that GDF works with, including the girls at Dar Taliba.
18 Semester at Sea university students participated in a field programme in Morocco to learn more about local biodiversity and indigenous Amazigh communities in the High Atlas.
Supporting HAWAPO in a project that facilitated the design, manufacture and transportation of insecticide-impregnated mosquito nets, essential medicines and supplies to three remote Jotï, Eñepa and Piaroa communities in Venezuela.
Meeting with local farmers in Imegdal and Aït M’hamed to identify their challenges and needs, and to collect agronomic and social data to design a Farmer Field School programme.
In June, our team went on a two-day field workshop on butterflies in the beautiful mountains of Oukaïmeden to learn about the characteristics and species found in the High Atlas.
Carrying out conservation studies in the High Atlas communities of Aït M’hamed and Imegdal for conservation action.
Stories of a group of animal friends living in a beautiful forest, and two young girls who travelled to the future. Read them here!
GDF and MBLA once again participate at the annual Moussem Festival, interacting and connecting with local community members, artisans, cooperatives and associations, and more!
Meghan, an ethnobotany student at the University of Kent, reflects on her experience as a research intern, examining how the quality and identification of lavender and thyme is established throughout the commodity chain in Morocco.
An introduction to the plants grown in the community plant nurseries in Imegdal and Aït M’hamed, which support the cultivation and enrichment planting of locally-selected endemic, useful and threatened tree crops and plants.
Dar Taliba students discuss climate change, soil ecosystems and making crop choice decisions depending on the season, and more!
#MedStoryPrize is calling on writers to submit inspiring stories about the richness of nature and urgency for preserving it, including relationships between planet and people, especially those whose livelihoods depend on traditional and sustainable practices.
Communities in Imegdal and Ait M’hamed in the High Atlas engage in creating community herbaria to conserve their local flora and preserve their plant heritage.
The Dar Taliba boarding house community garden is featured in The Darwin Initiative Blog. “The once vacant school garden is now teaming with life and encourages younger community members to get involved and improve their knowledge of local plants.”
Calling writers over 18 who are resident or from the Mediterranean regions of Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Greece or Lebanon, to celebrate the rich biodiversity found in these regions, and tell the stories of the people whose livelihoods depend on traditional and sustainable practices.
“The garden trainings are important to me and the students because they help us better understand the nature around us”, Jamila says.
Dar Taliba students are now learning more about how to take good care of the soil and improving its conditions.
Participants at MERA 2018 share knowledge and experiences on the role of community-based resource management systems in maintaining the unique landscapes, seascapes and biocultural diversity in the Mediterranean.
The Marrakech Migration Network is able to improve access to healthcare, legal support, job training, education, adequate nutrition and weather-appropriate clothing for migrants.
High Atlas communities learn about water harvesting, plant commercialisation, sustainable plant harvesting and seed banking.
An exciting permaculture training programme begins. The girls at Dar Taliba collect and clean vegetable seeds to plant in their garden, and explore their creative side as they participate in a drawing activity.
Learn about the processes and functions of collecting seeds, building community seed banks and developing a regional seed bank.
An interactive day with school students reveals important knowledge about available, useful and valuable crops in Imegdal.
This article, featured by Botanic Gardens Conservation International, describes GDF’s ethical engagement with communities through Access and Benefit Sharing, and Free Prior Informed Consent.
Irene Teixidor-Toneu speaks on the links between cultural and biological diversity for conservation in the High Atlas.
A photoessay on how the new community nursery in the valley of Bernat, just outside of Aït M’hamed, came to life.
A colourful workshop on natural plant dyes, a facilitated dialogue on the agdal in Igourdan, a fun art class for primary school students…. all this and more at the Moussem festival in Ait M’hamed!
During the last week of April, we left our desks for a few days to participate in the annual Moussem festival in Ait M’hamed, a lively village located in the High Atlas mountains.
Featured in Darwin Initiative’s May 2018 newsletter, this article describes how our project “Mobilising useful plant conservation to enhance Atlas Mountain community livelihoods” contributes to halting the continuing loss of plant diversity.
Since the beginning of February, the Dar Taliba students received trainings on planting vegetable seeds and successfully cultivated over 3,100 seeds in the greenhouse!
Exploring ways of collaborating with local organisations to provide medical care to migrants who are undocumented and cannot access the public healthcare system, and more.
Bringing annual health caravans to vulnerable communities in the communes of Imegdal and Ait M’hamed to help support rural livelihoods.
‘GESA allowed me the breathing-room to stop and really consider what felt meaningful and alive to me, rather than just ticking the “right” boxes.’
Over the course of one week, we distributed 14,992 plants of commercial value to 9 different villages of the Imegdale community, supporting local incomes.
Pommelien da Silva Cosme, Global Diversity Foundation’s Communications and Field Officer, describes the events at a permaculture training session she attended with 13 Dar Taliba students.
In November 2017, 19 young Moroccan researchers gathered to exchange innovative ideas on how to transform new knowledge on biodiversity into conservation action that benefits local communities.
GDF’s partner Moroccan Biodiversity and Livelihoods Association was invited by the ‘Friends of Toubkal National Park for Conservation of the Environment and the Walnut Tree Association’ to join the annual Asni Walnut Festival.
In November 2017, GDF and Moroccan Biodiversity and Livelihoods Association staff spent the weekend in Aït M’hamed at a workshop focused on group discussions on current changes to local cultural conservation practices, and to use participatory approaches to develop recommendations for strengthening them.
Weekly training sessions to all 130 Dar Taliba students on topics ranging from permaculture cultivation methods, seed saving and water management has begun.
Conserving threatened plant species to support community adaptation and resilience to climate change
in the High Atlas, Morocco.
The 1st European Community Exchange on Seed Diversity and Sovereignty was held 23-27 September 2017 in Barcelona. Designed for members of the European community working on issues surrounding seeds.
Global Diversity Foundation and Moroccan Biodiversity and Livelihoods Association continues working with Dar Taliba Ourika to conserve wild plant species and traditional crop varieties for local communities, and train students in processes of conservation and indigenous plant knowledge.
This 7-day Okanagan Environmental Leadership Camp took place at Glimpse Lake on Syilx territory (Upper Nicola Band), gathering Indigenous youth interested in building their capacity to advocate for and protect the lands and waters of their territories.
The Global Environments Network hosted the session “A New Generation of Environmental Leaders Embrace Whole Earth Conservation” at the Conservation Optimism Summit. GEN members shared their stories of contribution to the Whole Earth approach, showcasing the diverse countries, disciplines and sectors that GEN represents.
Ulu Papar Tales features 9 oral histories and tales of strength, conflict and peacemaking on Dusun territory in Sabah, Malaysia.
The North American Community Environmental Leadership Exchange 2017 was held in Sonora, Mexico. An event to learn and share strategies for biocultural landscape protection, and through this work strengthen Indigenous sovereignty and well-being.
Urgent action for Loma de Bácum indigenous community: bring Standing Rock Water Protectors to Mexico to highlight the plight of indigenous communities.
In October 2016, a three-day community researcher workshop was held in the High Atlas mountains to collaboratively review data collected to date, develop a methodology for the second round of interviews, and more.
Soon after the publication of the bilingual Medicinal Plants in Imegdale booklet, we set off to distribute the children’s booklet to two schools, Imegdale and Tiniskt.
This traditional knowledge teaching tool for Amazigh children features the most culturally important plants in Imegdale.
This article explores the relationship between institutional funding for research and community-based or co-enquiry research practice.
Gary Martin participated in the Tage der Zukunft 2016 conference, delivering a lecture on Challenging Diversity. He received the International Planetary Award.
Since 2001, Global Diversity Foundation has provided support to Dar Taliba Ourika, a girls’ boarding house in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco that gives Amazigh indigenous girls the opportunity for higher education. In this short video, Jamila Boussetta, a former student and current director of Dar Taliba, introduces the boarding house and its new ethnobotanical garden,… Read More »
Proceedings from the international conference Community Conservation in Latin America: Innovations in Research and Practice, which took place in the Mexican town of Xico, in the state of Veracruz, 6-9 November 2014.
Integrated approach to plant conservation in the Moroccan High Atlas, a 3 year project on sustaining livelihoods and plant diversity in the Moroccan High Atlas.
Co-enquiry and Participatory Research for Community Conservation, a methods manual covering theory and practice of co-enquiry, experiences from the field, research protocols for carrying out co-enquiry research on the topic of community-based conservation, evaluation of co-enquiry research, participatory dissemination and advocacy.
A Global Environments Summer Academy alumni collaboration to carry out collaborative event ethnography at the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Conducting and Communicating Ethnobotanical Methods, a manual covering ethics, anthropological methods, botanical methods and effective science communication.
Global Environments Summer Academy participants share their research and passion through TED-style talks.
Plant nurseries in the communities of Imegdale and Ait M’hamed have been set up to enable terrace cultivation and enrichment planting of selected medicinal roots and tree crops.
North American environmental leaders share research, strategies and tactics at NACELE 2015 (Montréal Botanical Garden), themed “Nourishing Relations: People, Plants and Place”.
The first Global Environments Network regional academy (Dominican Republic, November 2015) will gather 25 environmental changemakers from neighbouring countries in Latin America.
Gary Martin describes the challenging process of shortlisting applications for Global Environments Summer Academy 2015.
A photographic journey of the inaugural MedPlant Summer School, held in September 2014 in Angour, Tahanaoute, Morocco.
An article on the importance of local participation, and the difficulties of integrating different forms of expertise.
Gary Martin speaks about his journey of discovery of the diverse medicinal plants sold by herbalists in the Marrakech medina in a TEDxMarrakesh talk titled Aphrodisiacs & Botanical Livelihoods.
Community Action for Conservation addresses critical issues facing community-based conservation by reflecting on specific cases within Mexico.
Kakakapan id Gayo Ngaran, an annual pilgrimage celebrated by Dusun communities in the Crocker Range, is a collaboration with Sabah Parks.
Celebrating Borneo’s biocultural diversity through showcasing environmental films and nurturing local community filmmaking at the Borneo Eco Film Festival.
