Argument

Argument. By Prof. Elouali Aailal.

Except in a few countries, the development level of deserts and remote rural areas in many regions worldwide still needs to be proportional to their enormous economic potential. To cope with such economic and social disparities, relatively originated in some geographical factors (remoteness, difficult accessibility, rugged terrain...), scientific research is the vital and practical approach for the sustainable development of these regions. In order to establish spatial justice and address sustainable development challenges in deserts and remote or isolated areas, policymakers might adopt long-term national and regional plans and strategies, aiming for the sustainable development of these promising territories by implementing well-driven and adequate policies, considering their context and geographic configuration.

Education and scientific research endeavors need to be oriented toward the critical concerns of the sustainable development of deserts, arid lands (the Sahara), and remote rural areas (mountain regions) via the creation of scientific and academic entities in these regions (universities, colleges, institutes, schools, laboratories...), while encouraging and favoring the youth to study desert and remote rural areas related scientific and economic fields: Tourism (desert tourism, Saharan tourism), travel industry, and tourism economics; Livestock economics, management, and production; Agriculture, aquaculture, and agricultural economics (rural economics); The Economics of water, drought, and water scarcity management; Renewable energy, energy economics, and energy management; Mining and natural resource management; Phosphate economics and the phosphate fertilizer industry; Transportation and logistics; Fisheries, maritime, sea, and ocean economy; Economics of space (space economy) and space industry; Technology and innovation; Water sports and entertainment, sports economy and sports management; Cultural and creative industries, tangible and intangible heritage; Biodiversity, wetlands, environment, and nature conservation and management…

An efficient way to develop deserts and remote rural areas would be to draw on international collective intelligence by taking advantage of successful international experiences that have enabled the sustainable development of these deserts and remote rural areas by engaging in bilateral or multilateral international collaboration and partnerships, and by providing financial and moral support and incentives to national and international organizations and private investors, working to develop deserts and remote areas.

The Moroccan success in opening up and developing its deserts, especially its Sahara, is a model that could be a benchmark on a global scale. Indeed, from totally barren, inaccessible, and unproductive land to a prosperous resilient region endowed with sophisticated mega-infrastructures, Moroccan deserts have made considerable progress in record time, thanks to the implementation of some specific development strategies adapted to Saharan and desert regions, including the New Development Model for Morocco's Southern Provinces.

Prof. Dr. Elouali Aailal.

Founder and President of the International Congress on Desert Economy. Dakhla city. Morocco.

Professor at the National School of  Business and Management - Dakhla (ENCG Dakhla).