Road Infrastructure and Forest Landscape Fragmentation: Evidence from the Tangier–Tanger Med Motorway, Northern Morocco

Road infrastructure projects are among the most significant factors affecting natural environments, as they bring about changes to the environment and impact the continuity of forest ecosystems. This study aims to assess the impact of the motorway linking the city of Tangier to the Port of Tangier-Med on forest cover in the Dar al-Fawal Forest between 2000 and 2023, by analysing the spatial changes that accompanied the project’s completion. The results showed a decline in the area of forest cover in the Dar al-Fawal Forest by approximately 50 hectares during the study period. They also indicated that the Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) was the most affected species, with 1,835 trees removed. These findings suggest that the construction of the motorway led to the loss of part of the forest cover and caused changes in the forest’s spatial structure, thereby accelerating the process of erosion. The study emphasises the importance of integrating environmental considerations into the planning and implementation of infrastructure projects, and of utilising spatial analysis tools and geographic information systems to assess their impacts on forest ecosystems, thereby contributing to a better balance between development requirements and the conservation of natural resources. Keywords: Tangier (Morocco), degradation, forest environment, Dar al-Foual, motorway.     Available Online at: ijsrisjournal.com