Casablanca is suffocating: green spaces are vanishing, and buildings are rising.

A city in expansion, but at what cost?
Casablanca, the economic capital of Morocco, asserts itself as a constantly evolving metropolis.
Each year, new neighborhoods emerge, construction sites expand, and towers replace trees. Behind this apparent modernization lies a stark reality: the city is rapidly becoming concrete. According to estimates from local associations, the amount of green space per inhabitant in Casablanca is less than 1 m², far from the 10 m² recommended by the World Health Organization.

For many Casablanca residents, the disappearance of green spaces is no longer just an aesthetic inconvenience: it is a matter of health, quality of life, and urban future.
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Casablanca, the metropolis that is paving over itself

In the Maarif neighborhood, Samira, 34, points to a recently constructed tower:
«There used to be a small garden where children played. Today, all that remains is an underground parking lot and cars.. This scene is repeated in several districts: Derb Omar, Sidi Maarouf, and Ain Sebaâ. The few public spaces that exist are often neglected, poorly maintained, or transformed into commercial zones.

Satellite images confirm this trend. Between 2005 and 2025, over 60% of green spaces identified on Google Earth have disappeared in favor of real estate projects or road infrastructure.
The city is expanding, but it is breathing less and less.
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Real estate developers in the crosshairs

The land pressure in Casablanca is such that every square meter is coveted.
Real estate developers see the scarcity of land as a lucrative opportunity. An urban planner met anonymously reveals:Green spaces are not considered priorities indevelopment plans. As long as a plot is buildable, it is sold. »

Flagrant cases have sparked outrage: the disappearance of the Anfa square, the reduction of the Mohamed V Complex park, or the temporary closure of the League of Arab States park due to prolonged renovations. Projects for 'valorization' often come with partial privatization, limiting public access.


The consequences: a city that is suffocating

The lack of green spaces is not just an aesthetic loss.
The effects on health and the environment are tangible: rising average temperatures, increased air pollution, stress, and social isolation.
According to general practitioner Dr. Amine El Idrissi:We are seeing an increase in cases of respiratory diseases and allergies, exacerbated by urban heat and pollution. »
The densest neighborhoods, where trees are absent, register temperature differences of up to +5 °C compared to more green areas like Sindibad Park or the surroundings of Bouskoura.

Citizens who resist

In light of this situation, civil society is organizing. Several ecological collectives, such as **Zéro Zbel**, **Bahri**, or **Jnane Green**, are ramping up symbolic actions: cleaning campaigns, reforestation of micro-parks, and awareness workshops in schools. We want to show that it is possible to act, even on a small scale, explains Safae, a member of Bahri.
Some local initiatives are beginning to emerge, such as community gardens in Hay Hassani or green roofs being experimented on some administrative buildings. These projects remain isolated but showcase a growing collective awareness.

What future for Casablanca?

The city hall announced a 'Urban Green Plan' in 2024, aiming to plant 10,000 trees by 2030.
But residents remain skeptical. We cut down ten trees to plant one," Rachid, a retiree from the Bourgogne neighborhood, quips.
Without a real policy for protecting green heritage, these efforts are likely to be in vain.
To reverse the trend, urban planners are calling for nature to be integrated into planning:

imposing a green quota in every new project, developing green roofs, rehabilitating old parks, and safeguarding the few remaining natural areas.
Casablanca has not yet lost its breath, but it is holding its breath.

It remains to be seen whether decision-makers will finally dare to give it air again.
Beyond the alarming observation, this investigation reveals an urgent need to rethink our

relationship with the city. Sustainable development can no longer be a slogan: it must become a
priority again. If Casablanca wants to remain livable for future generations, it will need to relearn how to breathe…
in the literal sense.. .