The Khnifiss Lagoon is home to a diverse range of habitats, with a 20 km-long inlet, vast sebkhas extending south and westwards, and the adjacent coastline bordered by a sandy beach and sharp sand dunes. The whole area is set in a particularly remarkable desert environment. Recently, a colony of pink flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) nested at Khnifiss for the first time in Morocco since the 1970s, rekindling hopes of a nesting recovery in Morocco. However, the chick mortality rate is particularly high: only 22 chicks survived in a colony of 274 nesting pairs. This situation is linked to the main problem of the silting up of the lagoon and the resulting lack of nesting sites, with the limited but growing human impact of rubbish and frequent disturbance of the birds.

This GREPOM project aims to ensure regular monitoring of flamingo populations by focusing on habitat use and the impact of predation on colony establishment. To this end, a ringing campaign will be launched and potential breeding sites for this species will be monitored. The data obtained will be used to analyse the breeding dynamics and ecological factors influencing the new colony, and will lead to recommendations to be included in the development of a national conservation plan for this species. At the same time, an eco-guard will be set up and education and awareness campaigns will be conducted to promote habitat protection among schoolchildren and the local population. GREPOM will work closely with the Académie de l'Éducation Nationale to select schools and set up awareness-raising activities for schoolchildren to ensure their integration into the educational framework. Coordination with staff from the Agence Nationale des Eaux et Forêts will enable the sessions to benefit from their environmental expertise and ensure a structured and effective approach to raising awareness of nature conservation among schoolchildren.