Recognizing the shifting ontologies of temporary wetlands through the lens of sociohydrology: Case study of Merjas of the Gharb plain, Morocco

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Temporary wetlands are fluid territories with nonlinear and constantly evolving frontiers between water and land, often at the origin of various ontologies. The present research introduces the multifaceted ways of making sense of temporary wetlands by different stakeholders: as wastelands to be drained and reclaimed, as hotspots of biodiversity to be preserved or restored, as buffer zones, or as hydrosocial territories in which people live and produce. We explore how these ontologies evolved and how they influenced the way these temporary wetlands are perceived and used. The present study was conducted on temporary wetlands (merjas) in the Gharb plain (Morocco). The Gharb plain was mostly drained and reclaimed for agriculture, but about than 30,000 ha of merjas were too costly or too complicated to be drained and developed by the State. Using a socio-hydrological approach to study the interplay between people and these fluid territories, the research delves into the origins of the diverse ontologies and the way these ontologies have shaped the merjas. Ethnographic data were gathered through field surveys, focus groups, and participatory workshops. Hydrological data were obtained by remote sensing computing water and vegetation spectral indices. Two predominant ontologies emerge and clash, giving rise to conflicts among stakeholders. The State’s “buffer zone ontology” views merjas role as floods regulation (especially after the 2009-2010 floods) to safeguard agricultural and urban areas, an option firmly rejected by local communities. In contrast, the “local ontology” embraced by local communities, recognizes the intricate interplay between land and water and seeks to claim the reclaimed merjas for the benefit of the young generation and for the sense of belonging they feel. The perspective of temporary wetlands as ecological systems are neglected and not recognized by all of the stakeholders. These diverse ontologies are intricately linked to different networks of actors, that sometimes coexist, and most times collide. Defining what merjas are remains challenging due to shifting water flows and the existence of multiple stakeholders with divergent ontologies. Facilitating future negotiations regarding the fate of merjas remains challenging because of shifting water patterns and the presence of diverse stakeholders with dichotomous perspectives. Key words: Temporary wetlands, Ontologies, Stakeholders, sociohydrology, remote sensing, Morocco