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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2026)

Impact of climate change on wetland vegetation cover in the Province of Taza (Morocco)

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13823
Submitted
25 January 2026
Published
05-07-2026 — Updated on 15-07-2026
Versions

Abstract

This research highlights changes in vegetation in the wetlands of Taza Province (Morocco) over a 30-year period (1994–2024). The analytical methods include landsat satellite images supplemented by the calculation of the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) to evaluate vegetation activity in relation to precipitation, temperature data and climate conditions across 8 representative sites in the study area. The results reveal a strong connection between vegetation development and rainfall fluctuations, with each site responding differently to these effects. Conversely, the high-rainfall period (2004–14) promoted clear regeneration and expansion of ecosystems. However, the following decade
(2014–24), marked by increasingly severe droughts, rising temperatures and more irregular rainfall patterns, led to a general decline in vegetation cover and reduced recovery capacity, confirming the climatic impact on fragile wetland ecosystems, consistent with historical observations. The finding that irregular rainfall has a greater effect on vegetation than the total amount of precipitation aligns with international research highlighting the risks of extreme weather events. This emphasises the need for sustainable management of wetlands in Taza through integrated strategies that include ecological restoration, remote sensing monitoring and adaptive water resource governance to maintain their functional
integrity and biodiversity.

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