The Moroccan forest and sustainable development case of the argan tree Argania spinosa L. Skeels in Morocco

Year 2017, Supplement 2, 1 - 7, 15.08.2017

Said Laarıbya Assmaa Alaouı Najib Gmıra

Abstract

The argan tree Argania spinosa L. Skeels is an endemic species of the Moroccan Southwest, plays a major role in the lives of rural societies in a region marked by aridity and magnitude of climate change. From an ecological standpoint, it is worth noting the xerophilous and thermophilic character of the species. It grows in semi-arid and arid temperate and warm as long as the relative air humidity is sufficient. Its ability to enjoy atmospheric water distinguishes it from all other forest species. This space consists of argan fragile ecosystems accentuated ecological variation, is an open system, complex and multifunctional. However, the pressure on these areas is materialized by a worrying degradation due to malfunction of their physiological mechanisms, biological and sociological. These malfunctions, due to population pressure, overgrazing and urbanization, were amplified by the austere climate change over the past two decades. The current state of this forest area calls all stakeholders to develop sustainable management ensuring, firstly, the sustainability of forest resources and, secondly, better adaptation to climate change

Keywords

Moroccan forest , argan tree Argania spinosa , degradation , climate change , population pressure

References

• Benchekroun, F., Buttoud G. 1989. L’arganeraie dans l’économie rurale du Sud-Ouest Marocain. Rev For Méditerranéenne; 11 : 127-36.
• Charrouf, Z. 2008. Argan Oil, Raising the standard of living in rural Morocco-33ème conférence internationale du CIAS Tours 1er juillet 2008.
• Laaribya, S. 2006. Il faut sauver la forêt de la Maamora (Maroc), revue de la forêt méditerranéenne TXXVII N°1, Mars 2006, pp.65-72.
• Laaribya, S., Gmira, N., Alaoui, A. 2011. La Maamora au Maroc, Un enjeu essentiel de développement pour les populations locales, revue sylva belgica – pages 32 à 37 Numero Juillet Aout – 118-4/2011.
• Laaribya, S., Paolo T., Paolo E. et al. 2013. I prodotti forestali non legnosi, un’occasione di sviluppo locale. Il caso della foresta della Maamora (Marocco) – Revue-INTER NOS – Quaderni della Sezione di Botanica et Geobotanica Applicate - PISA University.
• Laaribya, S. 2015a. Dynamics of argan spaces (Argania spinosa) and the impact of activities anthropozoiques- international scientific forum, “on rehabilitation and restoration degraded forests” 8-12 Astana, Kazakhstan.
• Laaribya, S. 2015b. Cartographic analysis of the impact of agricultural crops and urbanization on the degradation of the argan tree (Argania spinosa) (Plain of Souss Morocco), International Scientific Forum, “on rehabilitation and restoration degraded forests” 8-12 Astana, Kazakhstan.