Full text
Revista de Estudios Andaluces (REA) e-ISSN: 2340-2776. REA Núm. 36 (2018). http://dx.doi.org/10.12795/rea.2018.i36 Urban Occupancy of Areas with Flood Risk and Territorial Dynamics: The Case of the Great Nador Agglomerations (Morocco) Ocupación Urbana de Zonas con Riesgo de Inundación y Dinámica Territorial: El Caso de las Aglomeraciones del Gran Nador (Marruecos) Abdellatif Tribak School of Geography Sidi Mohamed ben Abdellah, University of Fez (Marocco) tribakabd[email protected] Hassan El Amrani Urban Agency of Nador City (Marocco) [email protected] Formato de cita / Citation: Tribak, Abdellatif y El Amrani, Hassan (2018). Urban Occupancy of Areas with Flood Risk and Territorial Dynamics: The Case of the Great Nador Agglomerations (Morocco). Revista de Estudios Andaluces, núm. 36, 55-71. http://dx.doi.org/10.12795/rea.2018.i36.03 Enlace artículo/to link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.12795/rea.2018.i36.03 Esta obra se distribuye con la licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.) http://editorial.us.es/es/revista-de-estudios-andaluces https://revistascientificas.us.es/index.php/REA
Revista de Estudios Andaluces, núm. 36 (2018) pp. 55-71 Revista de Estudios Andaluces, núm. 36 (2018) pp. 55-71. e-ISSN: 2340-2776 http://dx.doi.org/10.12795/rea.2018.i36.03 Esta obra se distribuye con la licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.) 55 Urban Occupancy of Areas with Flood Risk and Territorial Dynamics: The Case of the Great Nador Agglomerations (Morocco) Ocupación Urbana de Zonas con Riesgo de Inundación y Dinámica Territorial: El Caso de las Aglomeraciones del Gran Nador (Marruecos) Abdellatif Tribak School of Geography Sidi Mohamed ben Abdellah, University of Fez (Marocco) tribakabd[email protected] Hassan El Amrani Urban Agency of Nador City (Marocco) [email protected] Recibido: 3 de abril, 2018 Revisado: 26 de mayo, 2018 Aceptado: 28 de mayo, 2018 Abstract Flooding in the urban environment has long been a major concern for territorial actors as well as for the local population in the Great Nador region. It affects, in a recurring way, the main urban agglomerations and the peripheral zones which surround them. Due to high population growth, a trend towards urbanization and climate change, the causes of floods are changing, and their impacts are intensifying in this area. These phenomena constitute a major obstacle for development and threaten the populations, especially in the peripheral districts which are in rapid urban expansion. This article aims to analyze and inventory the economic, social and environmental consequences of the recent flood events in Nador, while explaining the elements of an integrated approach to flood risk management in urban areas. Keywords: urban environment, flooding, territorial dynamics, Nador, Morocco. Resumen Las inundaciones en áreas urbanas han sido durante mucho tiempo una gran preocupación para los actores territoriales, así como para la población local en el Gran Nador. Afectan, de manera recurrente, las principales aglomeraciones urbanas y las zonas periféricas que las rodean. Debido al alto crecimiento de la población, una tendencia hacia la urbanización y el cambio climático, las causas de las inundaciones están cambiando y sus impactos se están intensificando. Estos fenómenos constituyen un obstáculo importante para el desarrollo y amenazan a las poblaciones, especialmente en los distritos periféricos que se encuentran en rápida expansión urbana. Este documento tiene como objetivo analizar e inventariar las consecuencias económicas, sociales y
Urban Occupancy of Areas with Flood Risk and Territorial Dynamics: The Case of the Great Nador Agglomerations (Morocco) Revista de Estudios Andaluces, núm. 36 (2018) pp. 55-71. e-ISSN: 2340-2776 http://dx.doi.org/10.12795/rea.2018.i36.03 Esta obra se distribuye con la licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.) 56 ambientales de las recientes inundaciones en Nador, al tiempo que explica los elementos de un enfoque integrado para la gestión del riesgo de inundación en las zonas urbanas. Palabras clave: medio ambiente urbano, inundaciones, dinámica territorial, Nador, Marruecos.
Abdellatif Tribak y Hassam El Amrani Revista de Estudios Andaluces, núm. 36 (2018) pp. 55-71. e-ISSN: 2340-2776 http://dx.doi.org/10.12795/rea.2018.i36.03 Esta obra se distribuye con la licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.) 57 1. INTRODUCTION The province of Nador, located in the North-East of Morocco, extends on a maritime facade of 153km and an area of approximately 3263 km²; occupying 3.94% of the whole eastern region; an area of (82820 Km2). This territory is characterized by rugged and diverse relief, which consists of 34.8% plains, 35.2% mountains and 30% plateaus. At the geological level, the province of Nador is considered as the structural term of passage between two large domains, the Rifain one which is situated on its western edge and the middle Atlas units to which belong its southern units. Except the units of the Rifain chains in the north and north-west (the volcanic massif of Gourougou and the Cape of trois fourches) and the units of the atlasic chains in the south (Kebdana and Beni- Bououyahyi massif), the territory benefits from huge depressions, bowl-shaped, in the central zone (depression of Kert and Bouareg, sabra depression). Similarly, the coast of the province of Nador has a large number of beaches that are generally located between the mouth of the wadi Kert and the Cape of Trois Fourches. The lagoon of Nador, the "Sebkha de Bou Areg-Mar Chica" is the largest lagoon in Morocco, with an area of 115 km² (Dakki, M. 2003). The province of Nador has a Mediterranean-type climate; which is distinguished by the succession of two contrasting seasons. Rainfall is rare and often falls in the form of storms with high-intensities. The data collected, at three stations, in the Bouareg coastal plain show a succession of very dry years (143 mm in plain in 1998) contrasting with wet years (489 mm in 2008). Torrential rains, sometimes exceeding 100 mm a day, are quite common; they are at the origin of a certain number of overflows at the main agglomerations of the territory. The amounts of rains recorded on 25 / 11 / 2008(125 mm) were at the origin of the floods of November 2008. Hydrologically, the region presents the characteristics of the Mediterranean coastal basins; it has generally temporary and short water courses, with small watersheds. Perennial rivers are few because of the arid climate and the scarcity of the mountains’ groundwater. The few permanent rivers are reduced to open sewers (Selouane, Caballo, Skhoune, Akhandouk, Arkmane ...), whose floods are sometimes violent. At the demographic level, the province of Nador counts in 2014 a population of 565426 inhabitants, of which 64.11% live in urban zones and 35.89% in rural ones, with a positive average rate of increase of 0.98% (HCP 2014). The density is the highest at the regional level, with 180 inhabitants per Km². The Great Nador has an important territorial dynamic linked to deep economic, social and spatial changes. This phenomenon is particularly evident in the transformation of small urban centers into an urban archipelago that extends actually over more than 30 linear km. These centers evolve through a process of densification, concentration and hosting activities of all kinds (tourism projects, industrial, port, housing, tertiary sector etc...). In this territory the changes are perpetual; the urbanization is currently experiencing a spectacular spatial dynamic, generally poorly planned. This accelerated action of urban sprawl has directly led to the annexation of vulnerable areas to urban spaces, and indirectly, to a huge upheaval in the spatial organization of the cities.
Urban Occupancy of Areas with Flood Risk and Territorial Dynamics: The Case of the Great Nador Agglomerations (Morocco) Revista de Estudios Andaluces, núm. 36 (2018) pp. 55-71. e-ISSN: 2340-2776 http://dx.doi.org/10.12795/rea.2018.i36.03 Esta obra se distribuye con la licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.) 58 Figure 1. Location of the study zone. This new relationship, created between this territory and the risk of flooding is an important subject to study and examine. The aim is to understand the evolution of spatial dynamics in this fragile and vulnerable area, and to highlight this spatial phenomenon which is very useful in the process of rational urban planning. In this sense, and in order to highlight the perpetual spatial transformations in this territory, it will be necessary to question two essential issues which, by their great importance, may call into question the logic of intervention in the territory: - How do spatial recompositions, in the urban environment, lead to an urban dynamic that develops and extends to risk areas, while creating new vulnerabilities? - How does the risk of flood fit into the urban dynamics and influence, at different scales, the spatial organization of the studied territory?
Abdellatif Tribak y Hassam El Amrani Revista de Estudios Andaluces, núm. 36 (2018) pp. 55-71. e-ISSN: 2340-2776 http://dx.doi.org/10.12795/rea.2018.i36.03 Esta obra se distribuye con la licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.) 59 2. THEORETICAL AND METHODOLOGICAL FRAMEWORK It is remarkable that the term of the risk remains associated with several domains: technological, urban, human, social, environmental, demographic, economic, and even heritage risks, (Wackermann, G. 2004). As for natural hazards, in particular, they are not always well defined, because they are immersed among other risks, with which they do not necessarily have elements in common. Geographical research on this topic is still fairly recent to highlight the similarities and discrepancies in the definitions; and it is worth mentioning that the notions used are clarified and begin to be challenged; and also too early so that researchers are interested in different aspects of risk, without being limited to immediately operational approaches, (Peltier, A. 2005). From the beginning of this work, we have chosen a sufficiently precise vocabulary to handle this study and to institute a dialectical structuring of our problematic. This problematic attempt to study the vulnerability of the Great Nador territory to natural hazards, from the perspective of the fundamental role of the socio-anthropic factor, and to understand the dynamics of this territory linked to the risks of flooding. To approach the subject of analysis of natural risks in the territory of the Nador province, we have necessarily recalled certain concepts and notions, which are used in this area, and which are often differently defined by researchers. Our objective is to overcome the lack of precision in terms of the definitions attributed to these concepts and which constitutes a confusing course for new researchers who are interested in natural risks. The recommended approach to lead this subject is to choose and define a vocabulary sufficiently determined, specific to the risk analysis, which will allow progressively a logical structuring in the process of handling our problematic. In addition, a conceptual diagram is put in place to explain, as far as possible, the phenomenon of the spatial dynamics of the main agglomerations in the territory of the Great Nador. Schematically, the main objectives are, on the one hand, to show how the site of implantation of the district and its morphological development combine to increase the probability of exposure to risk, and on the other hand, how the newly created risk generates a 'reverse' dynamic towards other safer places. Our methodological approach is based on the implementation of a set of tools and sources of information allowing a complete and integrated analysis of the problematic of natural hazards in this territory. Interviews with risk management actors and local elected representatives were one of the bases of this work. The first step was to assess the knowledge of the various types of risks present in the studied territory and to understand the main lines of their management, in order to highlight the difficulties encountered in the implementation of public policies. In addition, surveys were conducted with local populations to understand their perception of the natural risks to which they are exposed. The historical dimension of this study was approached on the basis of bibliographic research (Taous A., et al. 2010). Administrative records and reports from the Urban Agency and the services of the Housing Ministry have been helpful in supporting our results from the field. Similarly, a systematic
Urban Occupancy of Areas with Flood Risk and Territorial Dynamics: The Case of the Great Nador Agglomerations (Morocco) Revista de Estudios Andaluces, núm. 36 (2018) pp. 55-71. e-ISSN: 2340-2776 http://dx.doi.org/10.12795/rea.2018.i36.03 Esta obra se distribuye con la licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.) 60 Figure 2. Conceptual diagram relating to the territorial dynamics and exposure to the risks of flooding in the territory of the Great Nador. Source: Personal work. collection of press articles pertaining to natural hazards was conducted in local and national dailies. This work has been supplemented by more spatially and thematically focused field research. The exploitation of aerial photographs from different missions allowed us to map and grasp the evolution of the built space during the last decades. 3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The urban environment of the Great Nador territory of is still growing with a rather fast and exacerbated pace, by spreading in all directions following several logics. This has resulted in a fairly complex urban fabric containing all forms of non-regulatory and under-equipped habitat that presents enormous challenges for urban management (ABOUHANI et al 1988). The constraints of the topography, the landscape peculiarity of certain sites and their vulnerability have not been taken into account in urban manufacturing. Currently, this space has a complex morphology, where the implantation of more than 60% of neighborhoods has not been planned (Naji, O.2014) Development trends occur in a random way, generating spatial transformations that are not very reversible, with a very high degree of artificialisation of the soil (Figure 3). This urban landscape does not offer a living environment, decent, pleasant and aesthetic. The sprawling and anarchic development of neighborhoods following the logic of the cheapest land, could not give a clear picture of the big future city. In reality, local actors responsible for urban planning, under the effect of multiple pressures, social, political and speculative; continue to adopt an approach that is still curative and punctual for the treatment of urbanization cases, recognizing of course the mistakes of the past, while just trying to manage the crisis (D'Ercole, R., 1994). Even
Abdellatif Tribak y Hassam El Amrani Revista de Estudios Andaluces, núm. 36 (2018) pp. 55-71. e-ISSN: 2340-2776 http://dx.doi.org/10.12795/rea.2018.i36.03 Esta obra se distribuye con la licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.) 61 after the approval of planning documents for urban centers, their implementation and their applicability does not exceed 10%, (MHUAT 2008). Figure 3. The urban frame of the large conurbation of Nador-Zeghanghane. Source: Restitution and development plan of Nador 2016. 3.1. INCREASING VULNERABILITY TO FLOOD RISK Due to climate instabilities, significant population growth and a blatant trend (tendency) to urbanization, the causes of floods are changing and their impacts are intensifying in this territory. For a long time, the city of Nador has been the scene of a succession of large-scale flood events that have generated disasters and disruptions to the rhythm of everyday life. The exceptional climate event of 25-11-2008 caused disastrous floods, leading to the destruction of many houses, while breaking the record in terms of the affected population, and flooded infrastructure. A daily rainfall of 125 mm has resulted in catastrophic floods, (ABHM,2009) endangering people and their property, especially in rapidly expanding urban areas. Today, the territory of the Great Nador lives at the rate of spatial dispersion of urbanization and the invasion of sensitive areas, which results in a growth of amorphous and fragmented urban fabrics, where the risk of flooding is a crucial problem for the actors. The impacts of floods are not evenly distributed, they are very important in populated and high-stakes areas and less important in less populated areas. (Laroussi, B., 2008). The uncontrolled expansion of the agglomeration during the
Urban Occupancy of Areas with Flood Risk and Territorial Dynamics: The Case of the Great Nador Agglomerations (Morocco) Revista de Estudios Andaluces, núm. 36 (2018) pp. 55-71. e-ISSN: 2340-2776 http://dx.doi.org/10.12795/rea.2018.i36.03 Esta obra se distribuye con la licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.) 62 Figure 4. Impacts of floods on roads infrastructures in Nador (November 2008). Source: Personal work. e last decades in the risk zones accentuates its vulnerability to the phenomena of floods. The analysis of the ancient aerial photos and historical documentation shows that the Great Nador area, specially near the main rivers, was almost empty of any type of construction until the end of the fifties. Indeed, there were only small localities composed of a few scattered houses of native inhabitants (hamlets on Nador, Ait Anssar, Selouane,...). The area of the plain and "Sebkha de Bouareg" has been strictly safeguarded and reserved for agricultural activities and fishing. Table 1: Damage to the building in the great Nador in 2008. Source: Provincial flood committee, 2008. The analysis of these images shows profound transformations that have occurred over the past 50 years in the territory of the Grand Nador due to the dynamics of space and the expansion of urbanization in the flood zones (Khattabi, A., 2007). The current urban landscapes are archipelagoshaped, which has developed along roadways, despite physical, natural and ecological constraints. This human settlement has developed, for the most part, in a marshy and floodable zone, by encumbering the beds of the rivers. The urban fabric has been inserted by force, between several remarkable areas (Figure 5). At the North and the north-west, the Mount Gourougou and the cape of trois fourches (two sites of biological and ecological interest), in the south and south-west the Province Commune or municipality Totally destroyed housing Partially destroyed housing Total Nador Nador 05 60 65 Zeghanghane 00 35 35 Alaaroui 01 20 21 Beni Bouyafrour 00 43 43 Iksane 00 30 30 Selouane 03 79 82 Bouarg 20 33 53 Total 07 communes 29 300 329
Abdellatif Tribak y Hassam El Amrani Revista de Estudios Andaluces, núm. 36 (2018) pp. 55-71. e-ISSN: 2340-2776 http://dx.doi.org/10.12795/rea.2018.i36.03 Esta obra se distribuye con la licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.) 69 4. CONCLUSIONS The diverse landscape of the Nador territory between the mountain and the coast, with specific geomorphological and hydrological characteristics, are all natural factors that generate numerous hazards. Nevertheless, the latest flood events experienced by the local population have made it possible to detect the importance of the anthropogenic factor in terms of the genesis and proliferation of these hazards. In fact, the human interventions in this area have profoundly modified, over time, the hydrological regime of the wadis by shoreline and watershed developments, favoring the acceleration of downstream transfers. The punctual operations have caused significant impacts on the magnitude of the flood, and their combination will eventually worsen the situation in the long term. Faced with such a sensitivity, we note that this territory is undergoing profound economic and social changes (phenomena of densification, concentration of activities), which are reflected in a rather significant spatial dynamic. This dynamic is inevitably accompanied by a spectacular imbalance following an uncontrolled land demand, in which the areas at risk of flood attract a large population. Indeed, several urban sectors have developed on the field of action of natural phenomena generating risk. This urban situation will have direct consequences on increasing the multiplication of risk zones in urban areas. This spatial phenomenon will further aggravate the degree of vulnerability in several neighborhoods. On the other hand, although the vulnerability of the Great Nador territory to the risk of flooding is mentioned in the speeches of the local actors, the devoted knowledge on this subject is, until now, diffused; likewise, the culture of risk remains almost absent. Indeed, there is not yet an archive that is both permanent and homogeneous on the reality of the flood hazard at the level of the territory. All the data and information held by the actors are mostly qualitative and scattered. Moreover, the common memory relating to the knowledge of the risk is absolutely non-existent; the population has a tendency to quickly forget past events The current situation of these dysfunctions explains the delay experienced by the province in setting up an integrated provincial strategy for flood risk management. Initiatives in this context are still basic and are characterized by the punctuality of intervention while being limited to the implementation of sectoral action plans in a context of lack of synergy The current approach to flood risk management in this province has shown flagrant deficiencies. Indeed, the local authorities are far from ensuring the minimum protection of the districts exposed against floods; the situation is only getting complicated. Today, following to a political will, this territory lives to the rhythm of great spatial and territorial recompositions. In the face of these changes, it has become of great importance for the concerned actors to rethink traditional systems of spatial planning. This requires the implementation of a bold strategy to address the past urban errors, to prevent the increase of human settlements in areas at risk. the recommended approach must include the evaluation, prevention, intervention and
Urban Occupancy of Areas with Flood Risk and Territorial Dynamics: The Case of the Great Nador Agglomerations (Morocco) Revista de Estudios Andaluces, núm. 36 (2018) pp. 55-71. e-ISSN: 2340-2776 http://dx.doi.org/10.12795/rea.2018.i36.03 Esta obra se distribuye con la licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.) 70 reconstruction phases in a process of continuous improvement that takes into account past experiences. In our view, this approach should encourage the participation of users, planners and decision makers at all levels, around an open, transparent, global and communicative approach. This would allow a decision-making initiative, including public consultation and stakeholder participation in planning and implementing rational management processes. REFERENCES Abouhani, A., Ameur, M., Navez-Bouchanine, F. et Lehzam (1988). La recherche urbaine au Maroc: un état de la question. Collections Pratiques urbaines 6, 98 p. Agence du basin hydraulique de la Moulouya (ABHM) (2009). Étude de protection du Grand Nador contre l’inondation, avant projet détaillé et mémoire technique d’exécution de la solution retenue. Rapport inédit, 150 p. Bravo A.N. (2005). Arquitectura española en el norte de Marruecos: La cuadrícula de Nador, del Instituto de Cultura Mediterránea. Proyecto financiado dentro de la resolucion de 25 de enero de 2005 (BO nº 27, de 1 de febrero) de ayudas de acción y promoción cultural para 2005. 255p. Dakki, M. (2003). Diagnostic pour l'aménagement des zones humides du Nord-Est du Maroc. Vol. 1- 5. Secr. Etat Env. / Dptt Eaux & Forêts /MedWet, Projet MedWetCoast. D'Ercole, R. (1996). Représentations cartographiques des facteurs de vulnérabilité des populations exposées à une menace volcanique: Application à la région du volcan Cotopaxi (Equateur). Bull. Inst. Fr. études andines, 25 (3), pp. 479-507. Haut Commissariat au Plan (2014). Recensement général de la population et de l’habitat –Maroc. Khattabi, A. (2007). Analyse de la situation actuelle de la zone côtière de Nador : Les aspects socioéconomiques et le cadre législatif et institutionnel. Projet CAP Nador. Rapport inédit, dans le cadre du programme ‘Adaptation aux Changements Climatiques en Afrique (ACCA)’, financé conjointement par le Centre de Recherche et de Développement International (CRDI) du Canada et le Département du Développement International du Royaume Uni (DFID). Laroussi, B., (2008). Vulnérabilité aux inondations en milieu urbain: Cas de la ville d’Annaba (Nord- Est Algérien). Thèse de doctorat en Hydrologie, Université Badji Mokhtar-Annaba, 267p. Ministère de l’habitat de l’urbanisme et de l’aménagement de l’espace (2008). Évaluation de la mise en œuvre des documents d’urbanisme de la région de l’oriental. Rapport de mission inédit, réalisé par le cabinet d’urbanisme et d’architecture Ahmed IRAQI. Naji, O., (2014). Nador: Quand les lotisseurs clandestins construisent la ville. Journal électronique Oujda, 24. http://www.ariffino.net/nador
Abdellatif Tribak y Hassam El Amrani Revista de Estudios Andaluces, núm. 36 (2018) pp. 55-71. e-ISSN: 2340-2776 http://dx.doi.org/10.12795/rea.2018.i36.03 Esta obra se distribuye con la licencia Creative Commons Reconocimiento-NoComercial-SinObraDerivada 4.0 Internacional (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.) 71 November, V. (2003). L’incendie créateur de quartier ou comment le risque dynamise le territoire. Cahiers de Géographie du Québec, Volume 37, n° 132 , pp.367–388. doi: https://doi.org/10.7202/008087ar Peltier, A. (2005). La gestion des risques naturels dans les montagnes d’Europe occidentale. Etude comparative du Valais (Suisse), de la Vallée d’Aoste (Italie) et des Hautes-Pyrénées (France). Thèse de doctorat en Géographie, Université Toulouse II. Reghezza, M. (2006). Réflexions autour de la vulnérabilité métropolitaine : la Métropole parisienne face au risque de crue centennale. Thèse de doctorat en Géographie, Université Paris X – Nanterre École doctorale Milieux, Cultures et Sociétés du passé et du présent. Taous, A., Obda, K., Amyay, M., Laaouane, M., Tribak, A., Akdim, B., Márquez, M.A., Furduda, G., et Julia R. (2010). Cartographie et zonage de l’aléa d’inondation à Taza (Maroc). Application de la «méthode Géomorphologique Intégrée», Géomaghreb, 6, pp. 1-19. Thouret, J-Cl., D’Ercole R. (1996). Vulnérabilité aux risques naturels en milieu urbain : effets, facteurs et réponses sociales. Cahiers des Sciences humaines, 32(2), pp. 407-422. Wackermann, G. (2004). La géographie des risques dans le monde, Paris. Éditeur Ellipses Marketing, Collection Carrefour – Les Dossiers 2ème édition.