About
Despite labeling the Argan forest southwest of Morocco in a biosphere reserve by UNESCO (1998), the Argan tree is declining continuously due to the arid climate, characterized by a strong irregular rainfall, over-exploitation (overgrazing and almost systematic collection of fruit). Our goal is to promote this endemic species and increase the density of tree cover Argan per hectare. Some studies showed that in hilly areas, the density of the Argan tree is 35 trees per hectare, while in the flat areas, the Argan tree density is low and rarely exceeds 15 trees per hectare, this can be explained by the fact that in these areas, there are several factors that make the low density, namely urbanization, crops and deforestation.
The argan tree is a particular ecosystem, fragile and under great human pressure. It ensures through its natural resources, adequate living conditions for more than 3 million people, including a number of rural households. The promotion, preservation of the argan tree and its ecosystem is a national priority. The present project aims to develop the argan tree transplantation and implementation.
In Morocco, the current area of the argan forest covers mainly the southwestern on an area of 871,210 ha. Argan ecosystems encompass a floral biodiversity of great importance despite the strong pressure exerted due to human activities and leading to a significant change in the structure and stand density, the floristic and environmental conditions for growth and development of the argan tree.
The Argan tree (Argania spinosa) is indigenous to the Southwest region of Morocco, better known as the Souss. For centuries, rural Berber women of the Souss have extracted oil from the nuts of the Argan fruit and benefited from its rich nutrients. In the late 1990s the first female cooperative was created. allowing local women to profit both economically and socially from their work.
Our partners in arganproject.com help women of Souss generate a stable income by selling their local and original products.
The south west of Morocco is one of the most remarkable regions of northern Africa, because of its unique flora. The plant biodiversity of this region reflect its bio-geographic heterogeneity where Mediterranean, tropical, Saharan taxa coexist. The climate is characterized by low rainfall, high atmospheric humidity, fog and mist and low temperature fluctuation. The region is dominated by the endemic genus Argania, the gum tree (Acacia gummifera), the endemic olive tree (Olea europaea maroccana), and various succulent plant (Euphorbia officinarum echinus, E. officinarum officinarum, Kleinia anteuphorbium, Apteranthes burchardii maura, etc.) which particularly highlighted similarities between this region and the Canary Islands, and finally, the presence of many endemic (Traganopsis glomerata, Bupleurum dumosum, Dracaena draco ajgal, Hesperolaburnum platycarpum, Hannonia hesperidum, etc..). The region is also characterized by species of Saharan or dry tropical origin, which are located in relictual stations; Kalanchoe faustii, Commelina rupicola, Leptochloa ginae, Enteropogon rupestris. The aim of this work is to sustain these ecosystems and promote the alter activities such as ecotourism and sustainable exploitation of the argan trees to generate some incomes for local communities.