**3.3 Biodiversity degradation**

Habitat loss negatively influences biodiversity (which refers to the variety and abundance of different species (animals and plants)) in a particular setting and becomes unable to sustain variety of the species. The Maghreb countries face severe anthropogenic and environmental pressures driven primarily by the water demands of a human population estimated to have exceeded 105 million people in 2021. The Maghreb is an important center of diversity of fauna and flora species which is linked to its great geomorphological variability. Nevertheless, this biodiversity in the Maghreb region is undergoing a serious decline (level of ecosystems, species and populations and genetic diversity). At least six species of native freshwater fish species in the Maghreb region are extinct [35]. The warming up of the sea as a result of climate change affects marine species and ecosystems. For example, some definitively marine species might take the place of certain coastal species. Generally, rising temperatures will endanger the life cycle of some species, cause coral bleaching and the loss of breeding grounds for marine fishes and mammals. Climate change accompanied by the over-pumping has largely depleted groundwater water level in many areas in the Maghreb countries and has led to the deterioration and loss of unique water springs and wetlands with their associated biota. The intensive use of the Maghreb Rivers is projected to increase, exerting immense pressure on the ecosystem and associated impact on the biodiversity; through the disturbance of the biotopes of some species and the dwindling stocks of some populations. Also, the new irrigation schemes may further diminish water supplies in the Maghreb Rivers system and impose additional threats to the biodiversity.
