Impacts of climate change on migrations in the Mediterranean environment: Case of the Prerif mountains (Morocco)

Due to its geographical position within the Mediterranean basin, Morocco is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change.In the Prrif mountains, climatic and, consequently, hydrological droughts during recent decades had dramatic consequences not only on agricultural yields but also on the physical and human environment.The water shortage and the failure of the agropastoral system have greatly accelerated unprecedented migratory movements of rural population towards neighboring towns.Our household surveys, in some municipalities, show that a rural decline is already affecting certain sectors considered repellent.This contribution aims to analyze decreasing trends in rainfall and characterize the severity of droughts and their consequences in the region.The approach adopted is based on an analysis of rainfall data from two stations in the region (search for trends and cycles) as well as on the use of the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI).Likewise, household surveys were carried out in different municipalities with the aim of assessing the impacts of recurrent droughts on agricultural production and the stability of rural populations.