The Moroccan Biodiversity and Livelihoods Association awarded UN’s Equator Prize

In October 2024, SRT grantee The Moroccan Biodiversity and Livelihoods Association, (MBLA) was a recipient of the United Nation Development Programme’s 2024 Equator Prize. The award celebrated 11 “exceptional” initiatives led by Indigenous Peoples and local communities worldwide, providing effective climate solutions and reducing poverty through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The honourees, selected from a pool of over 600 nominations from 102 countries, hail from Brazil, Bangladesh, Colombia, Iran, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, and Zambia, with each receiving US $15,000.

MBLA was founded in 2014 to safeguard the natural and cultural heritage of Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains while promoting sustainable livelihoods for rural communities. The organisation integrates scientific research with community-driven conservation practices, to foster resilience and empower marginalised groups, particularly women and youth, across the region.

One of their aims is the preservation and revitalisation of local seed systems, which are crucial for agricultural resilience in the face of climate change. Through initiatives like Community Seed Banks they have conserved over 500 seed varieties, supporting biodiversity, food security, and climate adaptation. Between 2014 and 2021 the organisation established 5 community plant nurseries,  distributed more than 200,000 seedlings to local communities, and planted more than 20,000 trees in their natural habitat. It also provided capacity-building workshops in various fields to more than 1000 people from local communities, and established five community seed banks and three Botanical gardens.

MBLA stated that; “This award represents international recognition of our collective work in biodiversity conservation, combating climate change, and promoting sustainable development in the heart of the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. As awardees, we are proud to stand alongside visionary leaders from around the world, all united in their commitment to protecting our planet and its communities. This distinction highlights our unique approach, which combines the richness of our natural and cultural heritage with scientific innovation. It is a significant acknowledgment of our ongoing efforts to strengthen the resilience of ecosystems and local communities.”

In relation to the awards, Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support concluded; “The 15th Equator Prize winners embody the hope and resilience that are essential for both people and the planet. Their innovative solutions highlight the vital role that Indigenous Peoples and local communities play in climate action.”

For more, you can see their short film below: