## Danger deserts: M’hamid El Ghizlane’s cleaning campaign
On April 12, 2025, in M’hamid El Ghizlane, a village located at the gates of the Grand Moroccan desert, a cleaning initiative brought together around 50 volunteers, ranging from artists to associative activists, who united to deal with an often ignored problem: pollution of the desert. This event is part of the 20th edition of the International Festival of Nomads, thus emphasizing the union of a rich culture with pressing environmental issues.
### The impact of pollution in the desert
The desert, often perceived as a virgin area, is the victim of pollution, mainly caused by the massive production of plastic. Waste of all kinds, bottles in bags, were collected during this operation, totaling between 400 and 600 kilos in just five hours of work. Nouredine Bougrab, founder of the festival and resident, underlines that cleaning initiatives are generally focused on beaches and forests, but it should be recognized that even arid lands are affected by the debris left by humans.
The anthropologist Mustapha Naimi evokes a combination of factors, ranging from the low recycling rate to the drift of air pollutants in distant environments. This suggests the need to think about how plastic waste affects not only the landscape, but also the fragile environment in which nomadic populations live.
## Nomadic communities and their challenges
Contemporary disorders, such as climate change, are added to the historical difficulties encountered by nomadic communities. The traditional lifestyle, based on mobility, is already disturbed by climate changes that modify transhumance routes. With an inventory of nomads indicating a reduction of 63 % between 2004 and 2014, it is imperative to ask the following question: how can these populations navigate in mutation environments while preserving their culture and their subsistence?
The absence of institutional support results in heavy economic consequences, as indicated by several experts. According to Mohammed Mahdi, professor of rural sociology, state aid intended for agriculture are priority compared to those allocated to nomadic breeders, which creates an imbalance in the distribution of resources. The members of these communities sometimes feel marginalization in public policies, which calls for a reflection on the way in which governments can better integrate their specific needs in sustainable development initiatives.
### The importance of education and awareness
While this campaign is well done, it is clear that larger efforts are necessary. Promoting a better understanding of the environmental challenges faced by the desert could include educational programs aimed at raising awareness of waste management and the circular economy. A long -term commitment to the various stakeholders, including local authorities, NGOs, and community leaders, could strengthen cleaning and preservation efforts.
As Mohamed Oujâa, the leader of a Gnaoua music group pointed out, the environment of the environment is essential for future generations. This raises a crucial question: how to establish a balance between the ancestral traditions of nomads and the requirements of contemporary development?
### Conclusion: a glimmer of hope and a call to action
The cleaning campaign of M’hamid El Ghizlane represents more than a simple punctual action; It is a call for collective awareness in the face of environmental challenges that threaten millennial lifestyles. The integration of ecological issues into the local culture could become a vector of positive change, strengthening the link between the community and its environment.
While the world continues to face ecological crises, an in -depth reflection on the way in which different cultures can coexist with their environment becomes essential. The work undertaken in M’hamid El Ghizlane could serve as a model for other regions, testifying that with commitment and solidarity, it is possible to fight against pollution and to protect the precious natural resources for future generations.