Houses in the mountains–Northern Morocco

Photographer’s comment: “Houses perch on the lower slopes of mountains in the calcareous massif in northern Morocco.  I took this photo in May 2014 while working with Barbary Macaque Awareness and Conservation to speak to people in the massif about implementing a project to improve their access to medical facilities. The owners of the houses know the mountains very well; women ascend to collect mattoral and fire wood, and men graze livestock where grass and shrubs are present. The houses can become very isolated in bad weather, particularly when snow falls or the slopes freeze over, and management of the remaining forest is crucial for protection against landslips and desertification.”