Hot Desert Case Study — Morocco

Question 1

Location

Answer 1

North West Africa, on coast (Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean), shares border with Algeria and Western Sahara

Question 2

Opportunities: Energy

Answer 2

Largest solar energy plant completed in 2018;
Produce energy for 1.1 million people;
42% renewable energy by 2020;
Increase jobs and spending power in the area

Question 3

Opportunities: Argan Oil

Answer 3

Argan trees used for cosmetics, medicine, food industries;
5000 women work in Argan oil industry;
By 2020, Argan oil production will x3

Question 4

Opportunities: Mineral Extraction

Answer 4

Gold, silver, cobalt, titanium, tin found in Anti-Atlas region;
300 000 tons of silver produced every year

Question 5

Opportunities: Tourism

Answer 5

Culture —> food, games, pottery;
Traditional sites —> canyons, rocks, ancient cities;
Sporting activities —> camel riding, camping, driving on dunes;
Spending locally

Question 6

Opportunities: Farming

Answer 6

225,000 people rely on agriculture in Draa Valley;
Dates, vegetables, fruit grown;
120,000 metric tons of dates produced each year

Question 7

Challenges: Water Supply

Answer 7

97% water used for agriculture;
Water supply in largest water basin (Draa Valley) has become a real issue;
Only 2.5% is domestic use;
Double in population (1971-2001)

Question 8

Challenges: Temperatures

Answer 8

Extreme temp. changes;

N. East is 18ºC — S. East is 30ºC —> arid