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<p>Agriculture in Morocco’s pre-Saharan Wadi Guir Basin is transitioning from traditional oases to modern expansion under the Green Moroccan Plan. This study monitors rapid changes in cultivated areas and water surfaces in this arid zone, providing a scientific foundation for sustainable water management and ecosystem monitoring. Using Google Earth Engine, we analyzed Landsat and Sentinel-2 imagery (1984–2024) using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and Albedo indices. A multi-temporal approach integrating topographic slope constraints and water-pixel persistence was developed to specifically detect small irrigation water-retention basins. The vegetation area remained below 20&#xa0;km<sup>2</sup> until 2008, peaked at over 100&#xa0;km<sup>2</sup>, and has since stabilized at approximately 60&#xa0;km<sup>2</sup>. After the 2020 filling of the Kaddoussa Dam, the surface water area increased from 0.75 to 3.5&#xa0;km<sup>2</sup>. Notably, the number of individual irrigation basins surged from 235 in 2017 to 1774 in 2024. These quantitative shifts indicate a rapid shift toward intensive date palm farming. While the Kaddoussa Dam supports this growth, the 700% increase in private basins serves as an indirect proxy for intensifying pressure on regional groundwater resources. Remote sensing confirms successful agricultural expansion in the Wadi Guir Basin, but integrated management is vital to balance regional economic development with the preservation of fragile arid ecosystems.</p>

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Satellite-based monitoring of irrigation expansion in Morocco’s pre-Saharan zone: the Wadi Guir Basin case

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月2日

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  • Ahmed Karmaoui,
  • Adil Moumane,
  • Abdessamad Elmotawakkil

摘要

Agriculture in Morocco’s pre-Saharan Wadi Guir Basin is transitioning from traditional oases to modern expansion under the Green Moroccan Plan. This study monitors rapid changes in cultivated areas and water surfaces in this arid zone, providing a scientific foundation for sustainable water management and ecosystem monitoring. Using Google Earth Engine, we analyzed Landsat and Sentinel-2 imagery (1984–2024) using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and Albedo indices. A multi-temporal approach integrating topographic slope constraints and water-pixel persistence was developed to specifically detect small irrigation water-retention basins. The vegetation area remained below 20 km2 until 2008, peaked at over 100 km2, and has since stabilized at approximately 60 km2. After the 2020 filling of the Kaddoussa Dam, the surface water area increased from 0.75 to 3.5 km2. Notably, the number of individual irrigation basins surged from 235 in 2017 to 1774 in 2024. These quantitative shifts indicate a rapid shift toward intensive date palm farming. While the Kaddoussa Dam supports this growth, the 700% increase in private basins serves as an indirect proxy for intensifying pressure on regional groundwater resources. Remote sensing confirms successful agricultural expansion in the Wadi Guir Basin, but integrated management is vital to balance regional economic development with the preservation of fragile arid ecosystems.