Global Diversity Foundation

North Africa Regional Team

Abdelaziz Abbad
Mohamed El Haouzi
Abderrahim Ouarghidi
Nejma Belarbi

Abdelaziz Abbad PhD, Université Cadi Ayyad liaison

Abdelaziz Abbad is originally from Marrakech. He received his BA in Plant biology from Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech in 1987. In 2004, Abbad completed his PHD with a focus on the genetic variability of livestock fodder.

In addition to Abbad’s full time professorship at the Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech, he works with GDF to supervise research projects. Abbad manages and contributes to GDF research projects. He also advises masters students and interns working on both GDF and independent studies.

Abdelaziz Abbad is passionate about both medicinal and fodder plants. In 1994 he published a booklet entitled, Medicinal Plants Sold in Marrakech. “Plants have healing powers which allowed our ancestors to survive. They cannot be replaced by western medicine. Herbal remedies are gaining importance in today’s society and I believe that they are the future of medicine,” states Abbad.

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Mohamed El Haouzi, Director of Projects

Originally from Marrakech, Mohamed El Haouzi received his Bachelor of Arts in animal biology from Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech in 1987.

Mohamed El Haouzi has been the Director of Projects for The Global Diversity Foundation since 2003 and coordinates all of GDF’s field activities in Morocco. El Haouzi has been particularly active in GDF’s flagship applied research project, Wildlife Trade in the Souks of Southern Morocco.

Abderrahim Ouarghidi, Field Research Assistant

Born in Marrakech, Abderrahim Ouarghidi received his BA in animal biology from Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech in 2002. Upon completing his degree, Ouarghidi began working with GDF and the Natural History Museum of Marrakech. He contributed to the wildlife trade project by conducting market research concerning the commercialization of plants and animals in Morocco. Ouarghidi also wrote a report for GDF on the composition of herbal remedies in the Marrakech Region.

In addition to his work for GDF, Ouarghidi began studying for a masters degree in biodiversity at Cadi Ayyad University in 2006. Ouarghidi is currently researching traditional herbal remedies in the Zat and Imnane valley outside of Marrakech. Ouarghidi also works with GDF sponsored masters students from the university of Kent by assisting them with their research topics.

Ouarghidi is passionate about herbal remedies as a viable alternative to western medicine. Ouarghidi plans to finish his maters degree at the end of 2007. Afterwards he will get his PHD and continue a career in botanical research centered around medicinal plants and herbal remedies. Ouarghidi notes that, “Plant identification and uses are important fields that require further research and development in Morocco. More and more people are turning to traditional medicine and thus it is also a growing field.”

Nejma Belarbi, Field Research Assistant

Originally from Rabat Morocco, Nejma has been studying herbology for over 8 years, apprenticing with a master herbalist on Vancouver Island, Canada. Nejma received her Chartered Herbalist diploma in 2002 through Dominion Herbal College in Vancouver, British Columbia, and her Masters in Herbology in 2005 with a focus on Moroccan traditional medicine.

She is currently completing her MSc in Ethnobotany at the University of Kent. Her dissertation research addresses traditional medicine (TM) in Marrakech, with a focus on perceptions of TM practice, availability of botanical components and current issues by key participants.

Nejma’s interests include the valorisation of the TM system in Morocco, sustainable and safe use of medicinal plants, and policy implications of standardisation and professionalisation of traditional practitioners through collaborative and participatory research.

Nejma has worked as a consultant on GDF-Maroc’s joint project with the University of Uppsala and Cadi Ayyad University on market ethnobotany in Morocco. She is fluent in Arabic, French and English.