Morocco

Nicknamed the "country of the distant sunset," due to its western location compared to Levant countries of the Middle East, Morocco is a Maghreb country characterized by a wide variety of natural environments. Its landscapes range from snow-capped peaks to desert areas dotted with oases, arable plains, and oak and cedar forests. Over time, Morocco's rich history has shaped the way land is governed. The Islamization of the country, its colonization, and then its accession to independence successively transformed customary practices but did not entirely eliminate them. This complex history has resulted in a layered land tenure system, with different categories of land established during these various periods existing side-by-side today.