Archipel et dunes d'Essawira

Archipel et dunes d'Essawira

Country:
Morocco
Site number:
1469
Area:
1,520.0 ha
Designation date:
15-01-2005
Coordinates:
31°29'49"N 09°46'25"W
  • Archipel et dunes d'Essawira
  • Archipel et dunes d'Essawira
  • Archipel et dunes d'Essawira
  • Archipel et dunes d'Essawira

Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.


This Site is the largest coastal archipelago on Morocco’s Atlantic shoreline. It boasts diverse landscapes including low, dense woodlands, as well as herbaceous vegetation and nitrate-rich plant species, particularly around the historical walls found on the largest island. The ecological significance of the Site is shaped and enhanced by the prevalent upwelling of nutrient-rich deep ocean water. It is home to several endemic plant species, such as red juniper (Juniperus phoenicea) and Searsia albida, alongside rare and endangered animals such as Eleonora’s falcon (Falco eleonorae) and Manuel’s skink (Chalcides manueli). The wetlands play a crucial role in local climate regulation and coastline stabilization, and supports hunting, fishing, as well as cultural and scientific activities. With its rich biodiversity, distinctive morphology and ecological importance, the Site stands out as a priority for conservation and research.

Administrative region: Marrakech-Safi

National legal designation:
  • Hunting Reserve
  • Permanent Biological Reserve
  • Site of Biological and Ecological Interest
Last publication date: 16-01-2025
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