Teaching Ecosystem Services and Human Wellbeing in Morocco in the Context of COVID-19

Story from Nibani Houssine, Association de Gestion Intégrée des Ressources 

Professionals in Morocco now have the opportunity to complete a master’s degree in Adaptive Management at the d’Al Hoceima University. This program includes a course on the Conservation Standards. Adapting to current conditions, professor Nibani Houssine is now offering the course as a series of online classes. 

The series focuses on helping people at different levels find ways to better recognize and value the link that exists between nature and people. Species and ecosystems are dynamic capital, which (if kept intact or functional) can generate ecosystem services. In turn, these ecosystem services are transformed into materials necessary for good social relations, security, freedom, and health–or human wellbeing. When we protect nature, we can benefit from its resources and services indefinitely.  

The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated this concept. The pandemic has brutally deprived us of basic elements of human wellbeing, and it has exposed that not all social services are sustainable. This is an opportunity for us to engage in creating an economy based on the real capacity of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystem services.   

The courses (in French) are available to the public at the links below.   

Cours Service Ecosystemique 1

Cours Service Ecosystemique 2