The Barbary macaques, also known as Barbary apes (Macaca sylvanus), are endangered! And in the High Atlas, their most vulnerable populations are at risk of disappearing! Yet, they are left unprotected!
Fortunately, this is where Ecokerd and its conservation efforts come in! And this is where you can help them!
The success of our conservation efforts, and the continuation and longevity of this project, depend on your interest in our « Monkey Watchs ».
We believe that sustainable and responsible tourism can provide lasting funding for these conservation efforts. It can help us plan long-term actions in the High Atlas!
Long-term monitoring and studies are always at the forefront of conservation efforts as well as scientific discoveries and innovations. Together, let’s make this possible for the Barbary macaques of the High Atlas!
Ecokerd is based in the foothills and mountains of the High Atlas in Morocco. We focus our efforts on this mountainous region, which spans approximately 7,600 km²!
This region is classified as an IPA by the IUCN and PlantLife, and as a Geopark by the GGN and UNESCO. The region is home to two of Morocco’s national parks, sites classified as SIBE and RAMSAR. The MOSS is also working to create Africa’s first Dark Sky Reserve here, which would be the largest in the world. This vast region is endowed with exceptional cultural, biological, and geological richness, yet remains largely neglected.
With its varied landscapes—steppes, grasslands, diverse forests, gorges, wadis, and waterfalls—the region boasts one of the richest collections of flora and fauna in North Africa. As part of the biodiversity hotspot that is the Mediterranean Basin, these mountains and plateaus are home to many endemic and endangered species.
The Central High Atlas was the last refuge of the Barbary Leopard, officially declared extinct in 2008. It is also at the heart of Morocco’s dream to reintroduce the Atlas Lion. Some locals and biologists even claim that a few leopards may still roam these mountains.
Among the species found here, the Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) is perhaps the most well-known. However, in this region, it has been left entirely to fend for itself.
This is why the Barbary macaque is the focal species of this project. In addition to holding a key position in its ecosystem, it can also serve as a flagship species, drawing attention to many other declining, lesser-known species.
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