Number of Pages 7

This research paper: This is a 7 page paper discussing the interaction between the people and the environment in the High Atlas mountain area in Morocco and the region of the Imlil valley. The High Atlas mountain area in Morocco and the region of the Imlil valley have traditionally been considered a harsh climate populated only by the Berbers tribe which have farmed and grazed on the highlands. Traditional crops have included barley, almonds and grains which have been sustained in terraced irrigation fields connected by complicated canal systems. The irrigation system was needed to allow farmers to continue to grow through the drought seasons in the area while the major source of precipitation was water which melted from the snow on the mountains. Recently, environmentalists have become concerned with the expanding population in the area and the over grazing and wood collection of the mountain regions. Recent protection projects have proposed restricting the grazing in the area to preserve the environment. While this may preserve the environment and promote tourism, also increasing greatly in the area, it is estimated that the farmers who depend on the grazing will suffer for it. The introduction of newer roads in the area to aid in tourism and rural access has allowed the farmers to expand their crops to include perishable goods such as fruits. While these new roads may increase the income levels in the area, the roads may also be detrimental to the environment by increasing the traffic levels in combination with an increase in the number of chemicals and fertilizers for the new crops. Although, historically the people of the region, the Berbers have sustained their lifestyle by adapting to the harshness of their environment by irrigating their crops and migrating while grazing, the increase in tourism and new roads may actually lead to an eventual irreversible erosion of the ecosystem in the area. Bibliography lists 5 sources.

File: D0_TJMoroc2.rtf

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