Water practices: communal water rights in Moroccan river oases in times of climate change
Abstract
As a basis for settlements in dry climates, for agriculture and pastoralism, water has always been a crucial issue in Morocco. Starting with a historical analysis of customary communal irrigation systems of two river oases, including their organisational structures, current challenges in the context of climate change and urban growth are discussed. Communal irrigation systems have been undergoing changes concerning their organisation and their irrigation technologies, which have also been influenced by development programmes. This article aims to raise awareness about multifunctional aspects of customary oasis agriculture, diverse waters and historically rooted commons in the High Atlas region. It underlines unresolved questions concerning the climate adaption of small and medium-sized oases.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Water management and technologies
Climate Change and Sustainable Development
Water Governance and Infrastructure
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Planning Perspectives
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1123–1143
- Publication date
- 21 January 2026
- Language
- EN