• Mission: Lichens in Khénifra National Park - From Ecological Assessment to Sustainable Value Creation
• Clients: Société de coopération pour le développement international (SOCODEVI)
• Implementation period: 03/2026–07/2026

At the heart of Morocco lies Khénifra National Park, a mountainous landscape of around 842 km² in the Middle Atlas, characterised by extensive cedar forests. The forests of Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) are a valuable natural heritage and an important resource for the livelihoods of local communities. Against this background, a comprehensive study of lichen populations in the forests of Ajdir, Kerrouchen and Itzer was carried out. The objective was to better understand where lichens occur, under which ecological conditions they develop, and what potential exists for their sustainable use.

The study was conducted within the framework of the Femmes Résilientes au Moyen-Atlas (FERMA) project, implemented in collaboration between the National Agency for Water and Forests (ANEF) and the Société de coopération pour le développement international (SOCODEVI), a Canadian non-profit organisation. The study was conducted under the leadership of IPROconsult Morocco (ICM), in collaboration with Zoubida Charrouf Consulting (ZCConsulting) as a subcontractor. ICM was also supported by the Environment and Ecology Department of IPROconsult GmbH in Dresden for the mapping and GIS-based representation of lichen occurrence.

Through seven complementary deliverables, the study documented and assessed the lichens, analysed their ecological conditions and established the basis for a sustainable value chain. Particular attention was given to the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea, which can be used, among other applications, as a raw material for the perfume and cosmetics industries. The results show that the occurrence and development of lichens depend strongly on the specific conditions of each forest site. The age and health of the cedar trees, forest structure, altitude, exposure, drought and other environmental factors influence lichen development. A multi-criteria analysis combined these different factors and enabled the spatial identification of areas with maximum, high, low and minimal lichen potential.

The study also examined the value chain, from collection and processing to marketing and the development of potential new products. Sustainable development of the lichen sector could provide local cooperatives with additional income and employment opportunities and help retain a greater share of value creation within the region. At the same time, the study makes clear that the economic use of lichens is inseparable from the conservation of the cedar forests. Only healthy and naturally regenerating forests can provide suitable habitats for lichens in the long term. The study therefore provides a basis for further action: improving resource monitoring, promoting sustainable management and developing a value chain that can benefit both the natural environment and local communities.