In this region classified by UNESCO world heritage, the argan tree it represent to him only the symbol of the ecological and socio-economic life of the South of Morocco. The argan tree presents a big economic interest, because it is a tree with multiple manners. Every part of the tree is a source of food or incomes for the local populations: the wood is used as fuel, sheets and fruits constitute a feed for goats and the oil extracted from the almond is used in human food and in traditional medicine.
The argan so assures the subsistence of some 3 million persons.
The objective is to value the main product of the argan tree, which is the oil of argan, so as to allow groupings of women to pull a better profit of their work.
In what measure did the initiative improve the socio-economic conditions and the well-being of the community?
We notice an increase of the implementation of initiatives to group together the persons working in the argan.
The object of this initiative was to share with the local communities of the expected surplus so that they realize the fact that the argan tree is economically interesting and that they involve in a natural way in the regeneration and the reforestation of the region. We thus saw the creation, with several partners, of women’s cooperative for the production and the marketing of the oil of argan.
These projects so allowed the improvement of the socioeconomic conditions of the women and the awareness by the women of their rights. They bloom and they are proud to work in cooperatives because they are now better respected. Their incomes allow them to school their children, to improve their environment, to feed better, to get dressed correctly and to look after themselves. They became more credible. Thanks to the lessons of elimination of illiteracy, the women became aware of the interest of knowledge to read and to write. The women also participated in the other activities of training: training in the formulation of a project and in search of capital for his realization and training in the savings.
The valuation of the oil of argan allowed a significant improvement of the incomes of the women of cooperatives and also those who collect the fruit of the argan tree.
Which effects on the biodiversity?
Besides this socio-economic role, the argan tree plays an irreplaceable role in the ecological balance and in the conservation of the biodiversity. It contributes to the preservation of the ground and allows to fight against the hydric and wind erosion who threaten with desertification a good part of the region.
The population of argan tree declines in term of surfaces and especially density. Within half a century, the average density of argan tree is crossed (spent) by 100 trees / ha in 30 / ha. This degradation believes from one year to the next under the influence of the increase of the population and the livestock, the appearance of the intensive farming which engenders the deforestation, the over stocking, a greater desertification and an exodus increased by the rural populations.
He becomes for that reason urgent to look for a better use of the tree for the benefit of his users so that they are more motivated to protect and to transplant the argan tree.
