Volunteers tackle Sahara pollution in Morocco

At the edge of Morocco’s Sahara, volunteers gathered in M’Hamid El Ghizlane to remove hundreds of kilos of plastic and rubbish from the desert—a rare cleanup effort far from beaches and forests, AFP reports. The initiative coincided with the 20th International Nomads Festival and drew artists, activists, and tourists, highlighting the environmental toll of plastic pollution in desert ecosystems.

Organisers estimate 400–600kg of waste was collected in five hours. Morocco produces over 8 million tons of household waste annually, but recycles less than 7%. Anthropologists warn that plastic contaminates land and harms nomadic communities reliant on livestock. Pastoral nomadism—once central to Saharan life—is now in decline, with fewer than 26,000 nomads recorded in 2014. Activists hope the campaign sparks wider awareness and state support. “The desert also suffers from pollution,” said festival founder Nouredine Bougrab, calling for greater efforts to protect these overlooked but vulnerable landscapes.