North Morocco (region Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima) is characterized by high demographic and economic pressures, which intensify the vulnerability of the coastal areas Morocco lies both along the Atlantic and the Mediterranean coast, having a rich relief of mountain chains (Atlas and Rif) This diverse context induces the challenge of adapting to environments that are drastically different, and of answering the question to which extent the local population is aware of different natural risks Risk awareness is addressed as a predictor of precautionary behaviour in a questionnaire-based survey Here the variables explaining the readiness of inhabitants to protect themselves and their belongings from natural risks in the present and the willingness to invest and to protect in the future are explored Furthermore, based on the different response patterns in the survey, we used multiple correspondence analysis to identify profiles of typical dwellers The results indicate local regional differences, where the Rif Mountain dwellers are more prone to protect themselves than the ones living in other parts of North Morocco Finally, environmental identity indicates that the relationship with nature has an impact on risk awareness and precautionary behaviour This study brings out information which could be useful for policy makers who should promote ecological concerns and encourage local action in resolving environmental issues when promoting risk mitigation measures

https://hal-amu.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-02886622/document

Local risk awareness and precautionary behaviour in a multi-hazard region of North Morocco

This theoretical paper provides a new perspective on coastal vulnerability analysis by combining geography and psycho-social approaches. Most studies on perceptions of coastal risks report that people who are exposed have a low level of perceived vulnerability (they are not anxious), strong place attachment (they love their living place and want to live close to the sea) and are resistant to changes in adaptation strategies (they do not want to move away). For natural scientists and managers, these findings usually appear as paradoxes that enhance vulnerability and lead to these people being labelled 'irrational', 'in denial', 'uninformed' or 'uneducated'. Based on our long-term studies among coastal inhabitants in France, we believe that using Social Representations Theory (SRT) in this context enables us to go beyond these preconceived and individual-centred ideas towards a more contextualized view. This position extends theoretical risk/vulnerability research and is applicable to coastal risk management. Resumen: Este articulo teorico aporta una nueva perspectiva sobre el analisis de la vulnerabilidad costera, mediante la combinacion de enfoques geograficos y psicosociales. La mayoria de estudios sobre las percepciones de los riesgos costeros encuentran que las personas expuestas tienen un nivel bajo de vulnerabilidad percibida (no estan nerviosos), un fuerte apego al lugar (aman el lugar en que habitan y quieren vivir cerca del mar) y son resistentes a los cambios a las estrategias de adaptacion (no quieren mudarse a otro lugar). Para los cientificos y gestores procedentes de las ciencias naturales estos resultados a menudo parecen paradojas que potencian la vulnerabilidad y llevan a etiquetar a estas personas como 'irracionales', 'en fase de negacion', 'desinformados', o 'sin educacion'. Basandonos en nuestros estudios a largo plazo con habitantes de zonas costeras en Francia, creemos que

/pdf/interest-of-social-representations-theory-to-grasp-coastal-3ivbc5kot5.pdf

Interest of Social Representations Theory to grasp coastal vulnerability and to enhance coastal risk management (Interés de la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales para entender la vulnerabilidad costera y para mejorar la gestión de los riesgos costeros)

With an increasing number of coastal issues associated with human pressure and exacerbated by climate change, this study examines how residents of coastal communities perceive their living environment and how they perceive risks in this environment and more particularly coastal risks (marine erosion and flooding). An international (Canada-France) questionnaire study was conducted among 190 people, approximately half of whom lived on New Brunswick's Acadian Coast and half on France's west coast. The results highlight, on the one hand, the residents' strong relationship with their coastal living environment and, on the other, a representation of coastal risks as an important area of concern for them. That said, the worry concerning these risks varied among the participants. The local and cultural context (media coverage of this issue and the country-specific risk management strategies) may explain the differences in attitude between the two countries.

E. Guillou

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Préservation d’une image positive de soi dans un cadre de vie « à risque »