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Community-Based Water Management: The Oasis of Figuig, Morocco Recent Extensions and Transformations

Published: 30 October 2013
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Abstract

Water is a prerequisite to mankind’s life on earth; water management and governance constitute a primacy for policy makers. Discourses and theories of the Integrated Water Resources Management approach (IWRM) and Common-Pool Resources (CPR) have been embraced in water management models. However, these discourses reveal shortcomings as they foster equilibrium models for water management. Past policies of water management have failed to offer effective water management. New vision for water management upholds an Integrated Management Approach embracing economic, environmental, societal, and participatory aspects. Groundwater has been a vital element in arid and semi-arid areas. Today, more and more overexploitation of groundwater resource is witnessed in North Africa and the Middle East (MENA), where increased population, climate hazards, and increased land users render the depletion of the resource a serious issue. Today the allocation of groundwater is torn between collective, i.e. community management, and private initiatives through the adoption of private wells. Suchsituations results in increased overexploitation of the resource and a race over pumping technology. The research is based on fieldwork conducted in 2011, in the Oasis of Figuig, Southeast of Morocco. Diverse methodological techniques were used including: direct observations, semi-structure interviews with 30 farmers, focus group with the participation of 13 farmers, and an oral history. The Oasis of Figuig, an intrinsic case for water management, is shaped by two water management models: community management inside the oasis and private initiatives established outside opting for new technologies. One of the research objectives is to examine community management and to illustrate the conditions under which people collectively manage the commons and the reasons behind peoples’ free-riding. The study reveals that both community and private models of water management are relevant, complementary, and possibly reinforce each other. The case for “the death of the oasis” is not vindicated by current facts. The present research concludes to the enduring validity and viability of oases as they undergo renewal. Securing their long evolution, however, requires efficient and effective water management. These should focus on correcting the inequalities within community management and effectively monitoring free-riding.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 1, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijema.20130105.17
Page(s) 213-229
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2013. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Community, Water Management, Oasis, Common-Pool Resources, IWRM, Free-Riding, Morocco

References
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[2] D. Moss, The Symbolic Making of a Common Property Resource: History, Ecology and Locality in a Tank-irrigated Landscape in South India, Development and Change.28 (1997) 467-504.
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[8] A. Bencherifa, H. Popp, L’oasis de Figuig persistance et changement, Rabat: Université Mohammed V, 1992.
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[10] A. Jilali, Caractérisation hydrogéologique de la nappe de Figuig- Maroc, Master’s Thesis, Faculté des Sciences - Département de Géologie, Unité d’hydrogéologie et Géologie de l'Environnement. Université de Liège, (2009) 22.
[11] Monographie 2010, Municipality of Figuig.
[12] A, Darti, Atawasour al filahi rala hawamich wahat figuig: mintakat al arja- tisirfine, (Extensions Outside the Oasis of Figuig: Al Arja Area), Master’s Thesis, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Mohamed I, Oujda, Morocco, (2000) 6-7.
[13] A. Meziane, ''Figuig: Mousahama fi dirasat Al mojtama’ alwahi almaghribi khilal alqarn attasi’ ‘achar, 1854-1903,'' (Figuig: A Contribution in the Study of an Oasis Society), Rabat: Fajr Asaada. (1988) 259-264.
[14] A. Hakkou, & M. Bouakka, Programme de sauvetage de la palmeraie de Figuig et encouragement des coopératives agricoles, Département de Biologie-Laboratoire de Biochimie, Faculté des Sciences, Université Mohamed I, Oujda, Maroc, 2000.
[15] Agence du Bassin Hydraulique de la Moulouya-Oujda, Inventaires des Prélèvements d’Eau Souterraine à Partir des Nappes de la Plaine de Figuig et Elaboration des Cartes Hydrogéologiques de Gestion des Nappes, 2006.
[16] A. Marzouk, "Al majal walmojtama’ fil wahat Al Maghribia," (Space and Society in the Oasis of Figuig), Master’s Thesis, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Mohamed V, Rabat, 1995.
[17] A. El Harradji, Les ressources et le développement durable de L’oasis de Figuig entre la gestion des crises et la crise de la gestion, L’Environnement oasien face aux mutations économiques et sociales : le cas de Figuig, Colloque international organisé par L’IRCAM a Figuig, les 24-25 avril 2006.
[18] Bulletin Officiel 1975, N° 3292
[19] T. Boutayed, Espace et société agro-pastorale en mutation dans le Maroc Oriental Steppique, Royaume du Maroc-Fès : Faculté des Lettres, Université de Fès, 2003.
[20] S. Siebert, J. Burke, M. Faures, J. K. Frenken, J. Hoogeveen, P. Doll, & F. T. Portmann, Groundwater use for irrigation – a global inventory, Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. 14 (2010) 1863–1880.
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[22] R. M. Doukkali, Water Institutional Reforms in Morocco, Water Policy Journal. 7 (2005) 71-88.
[23] B. Lecestre-Rollier, La gestion de l’eau: une question d’identité le cas des vallées du Haut Atlas marocain, Actes du Séminaire PCSI, Montpellier, France, 2004.
[24] T. Madani, Le Partage de l’Eau dans l’Oasis de Figuig (Maroc Oriental) : Approche historique et archéologique, Nouvelle série. 36 (2006) (2) 61-81.
[25] E. Ostrom, R. Gardner, & J. Walker, Rules, Games, and Common-Pool Resources. US: The University of Michigan Press, 1994.
[26] R. Jaubert, M. Al-Dbiyat, & F. Debaine, Transformation des Régions Cultivées: Différenciation des Exploitations et Extension de l’Irrigation, Les marges arides du Croissant fertile, TMO 43, Maison de l’Orient, Lyon, 2006.
[27] S. Mizbar, Le poids de l’Agriculture dans le développement des provinces d’Errachidia et de Figuig au Maroc, Master’s Thesis, Institut National Agronomique Paris- Grignon, Université de Nanterre, 1999.
[28] G. Meszoely, Water Resources Management in a Saharan-Oasis, Doctoral dissertation. Law, Policy and Society Program, Northeastern University, Boston: Massachusetts, 2006.
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  • APA Style

    Hasnaa El Jamali. (2013). Community-Based Water Management: The Oasis of Figuig, Morocco Recent Extensions and Transformations. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 1(5), 213-229. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20130105.17

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    ACS Style

    Hasnaa El Jamali. Community-Based Water Management: The Oasis of Figuig, Morocco Recent Extensions and Transformations. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2013, 1(5), 213-229. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20130105.17

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    AMA Style

    Hasnaa El Jamali. Community-Based Water Management: The Oasis of Figuig, Morocco Recent Extensions and Transformations. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2013;1(5):213-229. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20130105.17

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijema.20130105.17,
      author = {Hasnaa El Jamali},
      title = {Community-Based Water Management: The Oasis of Figuig, Morocco Recent Extensions and Transformations},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
      volume = {1},
      number = {5},
      pages = {213-229},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20130105.17},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20130105.17},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20130105.17},
      abstract = {Water is a prerequisite to mankind’s life on earth; water management and governance constitute a primacy for policy makers. Discourses and theories of the Integrated Water Resources Management approach (IWRM) and Common-Pool Resources (CPR) have been embraced in water management models. However, these discourses reveal shortcomings as they foster equilibrium models for water management. Past policies of water management have failed to offer effective water management. New vision for water management upholds an Integrated Management Approach embracing economic, environmental, societal, and participatory aspects. Groundwater has been a vital element in arid and semi-arid areas. Today, more and more overexploitation of groundwater resource is witnessed in North Africa and the Middle East (MENA), where increased population, climate hazards, and increased land users render the depletion of the resource a serious issue. Today the allocation of groundwater is torn between collective, i.e. community management, and private initiatives through the adoption of private wells. Suchsituations results in increased overexploitation of the resource and a race over pumping technology. The research is based on fieldwork conducted in 2011, in the Oasis of Figuig, Southeast of Morocco. Diverse methodological techniques were used including: direct observations, semi-structure interviews with 30 farmers, focus group with the participation of 13 farmers, and an oral history. The Oasis of Figuig, an intrinsic case for water management, is shaped by two water management models: community management inside the oasis and private initiatives established outside opting for new technologies. One of the research objectives is to examine community management and to illustrate the conditions under which people collectively manage the commons and the reasons behind peoples’ free-riding. The study reveals that both community and private models of water management are relevant, complementary, and possibly reinforce each other. The case for “the death of the oasis” is not vindicated by current facts. The present research concludes to the enduring validity and viability of oases as they undergo renewal. Securing their long evolution, however, requires efficient and effective water management. These should focus on correcting the inequalities within community management and effectively monitoring free-riding.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

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  • Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Switzerland

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