Dimensions of urban expansion on the Moroccan Mediterranean coast, and its repercussions on the coastal environment: a case study of the M'diq-Fnideq coastal strip using geographic information systems

Abstract

 Coasts are among the most attractive areas for urban expansion globally, due to their natural resources, economic opportunities, and stunning natural landscapes. However, this rapid urban expansion often comes at the expense of the coastal environment and contributes to its degradation.

The Moroccan Mediterranean coast is considered one of the geographical areas witnessing significant urban expansion, primarily linked to demographic growth and rural migration. This is in addition to the role of tourism activity in the region, which also contributes to its urban attractiveness.

 The coastal strip extending from the city of M'diq to the city of Fnideq constitutes a model of the Mediterranean coastal areas that have witnessed an important urban extension since the eighties of the twentieth century. This extension took two forms, organized and unorganized, which had a great impact on the coastal environment, through the spread of various types of pollution, the plundering of beach sand, the eradication of forest cover and the decline of the coastline...

Keywords: urban expansion, Mediterranean coast, environment, cities of M'diq and Fnideq