Chris Gomersall (RSPB Images)

In order that we an keep track of - and assess the impact of the protest - please copy all correspondence to:

PROACT BALD IBIS

and letters/fax to

Groupe d'Ornithologie du Maroc (GOMAC)
Faculté des Sciences
B.P. 4010 Beni Mhamed
50.003 MEKNES
Maroc

or email:

MAIL FOR GOMAC

[on 20.07.2001 still under construction!]

cut and paste from here

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

To:

M le Ministre Délégué chargé des Eaux et Forêts, Rabat - Chellah

Minister for le Ministre du Territoire, de l'Environnement, de l'Urbanisme et de l'Habitat

M le Ministre de l'Economie, des Finances, de la Privatisation et du Tourisme


Dear Minister,

We are bewildered and dismayed to learn that the Club Mediterranee plans to build a new, 8000 bed, 260 hectare holiday resort in Tifnit, Morocco, immediately adjacent to the last remaining worldwide colony of the Bald Ibis - and intruding on its feeding grounds in the Souss-Massa National Park. This colony of 65 breeding pairs (2001) is a significant and irreplaceable part of the Moroccan, and planetary, natural heritage.

We are aware that the Moroccan ornithological society GOMAC (Groupe d'ornithologie du Maroc), together with national and international scientists, have campaigned tirelessly for the protection of this extremely rare species in your country, which has become a prestigious symbol of your national avifauna. Recent field studies in the National Park, under the aegis of BirdLife International, showed an encouraging rise in Bald Ibis numbers; finally halting the previous catastrophic decline in this species, both in Morocco and at world level. This is a cause for congratulation; but also for consolidation. Such successes are rare and should not be lightly discarded.

Whilst understanding the importance of tourism to the Moroccan economy it is incomprehensible that the massive environmental impact of this Club Mediterranee project does not appear to be given the consideration it merits. The Bald Ibis colony at Tifnit is an exceptional and valuable natural asset. Once destroyed it can never be replaced. Indeed, with the continuous increase in green tourism, the almost unique status of the colony could become a not inconsiderable economic factor. On the other hand, its destruction would generate negative and unwelcome environmental publicity for Morocco

We support the GOMAC initiative against the uncritical acceptance of this project. We understand that various impact assessment analyses corroborate their grounds for concern; and that studies of alternative locations for the resort, not far from the National Park site, endorse the argument that they would be considerably less detrimental to the feeding habitats and thereby the survival - of the Bald Ibis.

We urge you to accept the responsibility for the survival of this threatened bird species and use the influence and standing of your office to prevent irreversible damage to the natural environment of your country.

In the hope of a favourable outcome and intervention on your part we remain,

Yours faithfully,


[Name and full address]

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

to here....and send by post, email or fax as follows...

Contact Addresses:

1.

M. Mohamed EL YAZGHI
Ministre chargé de l'Aménagement du Territoire, de l'Urbanisme,de l'Habitat et l'Environnement

Département de l'environnement
36 Avenue Al Abtal
Agdal - Rabat
Maroc

Tel : 037 77 26 34 et 35
Fax : 037 77 27 56

Mail to Département de l'environnement

Homepage Environment Ministry

2.

M. Fathallah OUALALOU
Ministre de l'Economie, des Finances, de la Privatisation et du Tourisme

Département de Tourisme
Quartier Administratif - Rabat
Maroc

Tel : 037 76 17 01/ 02

Mail to Département de Tourisme

3.

M le Ministre Délégué chargé des Eaux et Forêts
Quartier Administratif
Place Abdellah Chefchaouni
B.P. 607 Rabat
Maroc
Tél: (07) 76 09 33 / 93 - 76 01 02.
Fax: 76 33 78.

Mail to Ministre Délégué chargé des Eaux et Forêts via PM!!

There were problems with the above mail address. I have changed it to the Prime Minister's website where there is a mail form! Hopefully it will be forwarded!

.......... and copy all correspondence by fax, email or post to 4.!!

Mail to ClubMed

[mark for attention:
President du Directoire
Club Mediterranee
M. Phillipe Bourguignon]

if you don't have fax facilities - send a free fax from Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA - via:

WEB-TO-FAX SERVICES

Fax: ++33 1 53 35 31 51

M. Phillipe Bourguignon
President du Directoire
Club Mediterranee
11 rue de Cambrai
75019 Paris Cedex 19
France

Club Med Resorts Homepage