The September 2023 earthquake in the High Atlas region of Morocco prompted Ecosia to pledge its profits for recovery efforts through the High Atlas Foundation, resulting in the planting of 80,000 trees, repair of irrigation systems, and installation of solar panels, aiding approximately 50,000 affected families.
In September 2023, Morocco faced a catastrophic earthquake that severely affected the High Atlas region, displacing families and devastating local agriculture. In response, Ecosia, a search engine that contributes its profits to various environmental initiatives, pledged its earnings from searches on a specific day to support recovery efforts through the High Atlas Foundation (HAF). This partnership aims to restore essential infrastructure and plant approximately 200,000 trees in the region as conditions permit. A year after the disaster, significant progress has been reported. Ecosia and HAF have successfully planted 80,000 trees, repaired irrigation systems, and installed 60 solar panels to aid the affected communities. Yossef Ben-Meir, the president of HAF, revealed in an interview that close to 50,000 families felt the earthquake’s repercussions, with many still grappling with housing insecurity. He stated, “A village of 300 people lost half its people. Many villages were completely devastated, but in other areas, the damage was centered around a very small space.” The commitment from Ecosia to dedicate a day’s profits to this cause was described by Pieter van Midwoud, Ecosia’s chief tree planting officer, as a straightforward decision, emphasizing the connection between the organization and the impacted farmers: “It’s a moment where you put everything aside and say ‘we have to do this’.” With eight years of collaboration with local farmers, Ecosia has established vital nurseries that provide seedlings critical for the region’s agricultural restoration, particularly against erosion and climate change effects. Following the earthquake, Ecosia’s efforts focused on reparative measures in highly affected villages, including restoring water infrastructure, essential for community resilience. Ben-Meir stated, “We are a community development organization. Many of these communities want to plant trees as they transition from barley and corn.” He noted the challenges posed by a six-year drought which aggravated the situation. The overarching goal is to create sustainable revenue sources that can be reinvested into community projects. Collaborations with Ecosia have introduced initiatives such as the establishment of small nurseries supported by local farmers who are directly involved in tree planting. Van Midwoud affirmed, “We have basically created tree planting machines in the High Atlas mountain region, which is a great legacy to leave.” Overall, this collaboration exemplifies the impactful intersection of environmental stewardship and community recovery post-disaster.
The High Atlas region of Morocco experienced a severe earthquake in September 2023, which substantially impacted livelihoods, particularly in agricultural communities. The disaster prompted the search engine Ecosia to contribute its resources to aid recovery efforts. Ecosia has established a model where profits from searches are redirected to environmental initiatives, particularly those involving tree planting and community infrastructure. The partnership with the High Atlas Foundation aims at not only rebuilding but also enhancing the sustainability and resilience of local agriculture against future climatic adversities.
The recovery efforts following the Moroccan earthquake illustrate the potential of combining technology and environmental advocacy for community rehabilitation. Ecosia’s commitment to the High Atlas region has resulted in significant strides in infrastructure repair and agricultural resilience through tree planting and solar energy initiatives. As these efforts continue, it becomes evident that sustainable practices can foster long-term recovery in disaster-stricken areas and improve community self-sufficiency.
Original Source: www.forbes.com
