FRAMEWORK NOTE
8th International Argan Tree Congress
The Arganeraie, a unique forest-based ecosystem in the Western-Central Moroccan designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1998. It Covers over one million hectares, and serves as an ecological corridor against desertification and a vital socio-economic pillar for more than 2.5 million people. The Argan tree (Argania spinosa), an endemic species, is the backbone of this ancestral agro-sylvo-pastoral system, fulfilling ecological, productive, and cultural functions. It is essential for water regulation and soil stabilization because of its foliage, organic matter supply to the soil, deep root system, and sustainable land management practices. Together, these factors strengthen the ability of these arid landscapes to withstand climatic hazards.
Actually, this exceptional ecosystem faces multiple challenges. Accelerated socio-economic transformations, land tenure change, urbanization, natural resources overexploitation, and climate change aggravate its critical vulnerability. Successive droughts, irregular rainfall, rising temperatures, and hydrological instability are severely weakening the viability and adaptive capacity of this forest. Beyond the Argan tree itself, several associated plant and cultivated crop species are at risk of degradation (case of cactus), which affects the overall ecosystem balance, soil protection, moisture retention, and pastoral activity.
Timeline for the Call for Papers
PJC timeline
