18th International Scientific Congress Amazigh, Ecology, Disaster Management, and Territorial Development Agadir, July 2024

Argument:

« Ecology » is linked, in its most recent developments, to culture, politics, territorial development, and the integration of environmental issues into social, economic, and political organization. In other words, the methods adopted to approach space rely on the fusion between human activity, ecosystems, natural resources, and socio-economic dynamics.

Renewals of ecological thought and practice refer to the ecosystem and cultural values related to the multidimensional relationship between human society and its environment in social, historical, and cultural dimensions, to the practices of indigenous populations and local groups as well as in addressing current environmental challenges, the importance of traditional practices in various organizational, customary, agricultural, and local economic activities, and their role in the preservation and joint management of territorial space and its resources.

In recent years, ecological thought and practice have expanded into various areas of human activity, including politics and economics, such as democracy, community management, equitable distribution of wealth, industrial and technological production and consumption. Thus, the ecological approach goes beyond the initial environmental and natural framework, despite its central importance, to address the future, the survival of humanity, forms of struggle against domination, against the destruction of the human community and the common good, and the establishment of new relationships with the territory to promote belonging, equality, solidarity, and cohesion.

At the economic level, the notion of territorial space and its dynamics has become important in production planning and development. Regarding models of social life organization and production, there are models based on the aspects of local territories and their social, cultural, and historical data. This idea has led to a shift from the classical definition of territorial space as a « passive container and a mere receptacle of activities » to a broader definition of socially organized, productive, and active development space. Many studies on concrete forms of territorial organization and development policies, conducted over the past twenty years, demonstrate the essential presence of the cultural dimension at the heart of territorial dynamics, and the need to take it into account in global and sustainable development projects.

Regarding the management of risks and natural disasters and territorial development, the subject has gained importance in territorial policies and development plans over the past two Page 2 of 3 decades, particularly since the third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan in 2015. This conference concluded with the adoption of a plan aimed at reducing disaster risks and mitigating their effects, such as the expected impacts of climate change and earthquakes. It emphasized that the primary victims are populations of developing countries, characterized by a lack of infrastructure, appropriate management methods, territorial planning, poverty, and lack of data and information. The plan also stressed the need for better reconstruction after disasters and the capacity to cope with and mitigate their damage by providing infrastructure in health, education, and cultural heritage preservation, as well as means to develop affected areas.

From these considerations, the direct link between culture, ecology, the scale of disasters, and territorial development is evident. This leads us to ask the following questions:

– What are the foundations of the contemporary ecological approach to territory?

– What are the foundations and contributions of the Amazigh cultural vision to territorial development, achieving spatial and social justice, and developing social, economic, and ecological dynamics?

– What policies and strategies are needed to prevent and manage natural disaster risks and strengthen resilience in the future, considering the case of the 2023 Al Haouz earthquake, and to implement effective designs that integrate cultural and local properties in the reconstruction, development of affected areas, and development of Morocco’s mountainous regions?

Our international congress seeks to address these questions along the following domains and axes:

– The geographical, economic, and environmental axis.

– History, social sciences, and anthropology.

– Culture, education, arts, and archaeology.

– The legal and political axis.

– Architecture, equipment, and territorial planning. Calendar:

May 15, 2024: Deadline for the receipt of communication abstracts. May 25, 2024: Response from the scientific committee. June 25, 2024: Deadline for the receipt of the full and final text intended for publication. July 25/26/27, 2024: Holding of the colloquium. Page 3 of 3 Contact:

Communication proposals and full texts should be sent by email to the following address: ueci.agadir@gmail.com

The communication abstract, ranging from 500 to 800 words, should include the following elements: the title of the communication, the problem to be addressed, the expected results, and a brief bibliography. The author is also requested to send a biographical note (100 words).

Note: Accommodation and meals are provided by the University of Summer Agadir during the congress, and the colloquium proceedings will be published later by UEA.

Scientific Committee:

Rachid El Hahi, Aesthetics, Arts and Culture, International University, Marrakech.

Faouzi Boukhriss, Sociology and Anthropology, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra.

Brahim Fouguig, Economics, Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez.

Fadma Ait Mous, Sociology, Hassan II University, Casablanca.

Mohamed Bouchelkha, Rural Geography, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir.

Lhoucine Ihlal, Topographic Engineer and Architecture Expert, Marrakech.

Abdelhakim Aboulouz, Political Sociology, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir.

Mohammed Oubihi, Contemporary History, Mohamed V University, Rabat.

Aziz Bentaleb, Environmental Studies, Ircam, Rabat.

Mohamed Belilid, Law and Political Science, University of Summer, Agadir.

Mohamed Akounad, Literature and Amazigh Culture, University of Summer, Agadir.

Organizing Committee:

Malika Boutaleb

Mohamed Jawhari

Jamaa Fardi

Fatima Zaaf

M.Hasan Achhayfi

Zahira Tigdad

Brahim Lakhsasi

Aicha Fikri

18th International Scientific Congress Amazigh, Ecology, Disaster Management, and Territorial Development Agadir, July 2024

Argument:

« Ecology » is linked, in its most recent developments, to culture, politics, territorial development, and the integration of environmental issues into social, economic, and political organization. In other words, the methods adopted to approach space rely on the fusion between human activity, ecosystems, natural resources, and socio-economic dynamics.

Renewals of ecological thought and practice refer to the ecosystem and cultural values related to the multidimensional relationship between human society and its environment in social, historical, and cultural dimensions, to the practices of indigenous populations and local groups as well as in addressing current environmental challenges, the importance of traditional practices in various organizational, customary, agricultural, and local economic activities, and their role in the preservation and joint management of territorial space and its resources.

In recent years, ecological thought and practice have expanded into various areas of human activity, including politics and economics, such as democracy, community management, equitable distribution of wealth, industrial and technological production and consumption. Thus, the ecological approach goes beyond the initial environmental and natural framework, despite its central importance, to address the future, the survival of humanity, forms of struggle against domination, against the destruction of the human community and the common good, and the establishment of new relationships with the territory to promote belonging, equality, solidarity, and cohesion.

At the economic level, the notion of territorial space and its dynamics has become important in production planning and development. Regarding models of social life organization and production, there are models based on the aspects of local territories and their social, cultural, and historical data. This idea has led to a shift from the classical definition of territorial space as a « passive container and a mere receptacle of activities » to a broader definition of socially organized, productive, and active development space. Many studies on concrete forms of territorial organization and development policies, conducted over the past twenty years, demonstrate the essential presence of the cultural dimension at the heart of territorial dynamics, and the need to take it into account in global and sustainable development projects.

Regarding the management of risks and natural disasters and territorial development, the subject has gained importance in territorial policies and development plans over the past two Page 2 of 3 decades, particularly since the third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Sendai, Japan in 2015. This conference concluded with the adoption of a plan aimed at reducing disaster risks and mitigating their effects, such as the expected impacts of climate change and earthquakes. It emphasized that the primary victims are populations of developing countries, characterized by a lack of infrastructure, appropriate management methods, territorial planning, poverty, and lack of data and information. The plan also stressed the need for better reconstruction after disasters and the capacity to cope with and mitigate their damage by providing infrastructure in health, education, and cultural heritage preservation, as well as means to develop affected areas.

From these considerations, the direct link between culture, ecology, the scale of disasters, and territorial development is evident. This leads us to ask the following questions:

 – What are the foundations of the contemporary ecological approach to territory?

 – What are the foundations and contributions of the Amazigh cultural vision to territorial development, achieving spatial and social justice, and developing social, economic, and ecological dynamics?

– What policies and strategies are needed to prevent and manage natural disaster risks and strengthen resilience in the future, considering the case of the 2023 Al Haouz earthquake, and to implement effective designs that integrate cultural and local properties in the reconstruction, development of affected areas, and development of Morocco’s mountainous regions?

 Our international congress seeks to address these questions along the following domains and axes:

– The geographical, economic, and environmental axis.

 – History, social sciences, and anthropology.

 – Culture, education, arts, and archaeology.

– The legal and political axis.

 – Architecture, equipment, and territorial planning. Calendar:

May 15, 2024: Deadline for the receipt of communication abstracts. May 25, 2024: Response from the scientific committee. June 25, 2024: Deadline for the receipt of the full and final text intended for publication. July 25/26/27, 2024: Holding of the colloquium. Page 3 of 3 Contact:

Communication proposals and full texts should be sent by email to the following address: ueci.agadir@gmail.com

The communication abstract, ranging from 500 to 800 words, should include the following elements: the title of the communication, the problem to be addressed, the expected results, and a brief bibliography. The author is also requested to send a biographical note (100 words).

Note: Accommodation and meals are provided by the University of Summer Agadir during the congress, and the colloquium proceedings will be published later by UEA.

Scientific Committee:

Rachid El Hahi, Aesthetics, Arts and Culture, International University, Marrakech.

 Faouzi Boukhriss, Sociology and Anthropology, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra.

Brahim Fouguig, Economics, Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fez.

Fadma Ait Mous, Sociology, Hassan II University, Casablanca.

Mohamed Bouchelkha, Rural Geography, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir.

 Lhoucine Ihlal, Topographic Engineer and Architecture Expert, Marrakech.

Abdelhakim Aboulouz, Political Sociology, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir.

Mohammed Oubihi, Contemporary History, Mohamed V University, Rabat.

Aziz Bentaleb, Environmental Studies, Ircam, Rabat.

Mohamed Belilid, Law and Political Science, University of Summer, Agadir.

Mohamed Akounad, Literature and Amazigh Culture, University of Summer, Agadir.

Organizing Committee:

 Malika Boutaleb

Mohamed Jawhari

Jamaa Fardi

Fatima Zaaf

 M.Hasan Achhayfi

 Zahira Tigdad

Brahim Lakhsasi

Aicha Fikri