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Arganeraie (Argan) Biosphere Reserve
SW Morocco (Agadir, Taroudant, Tiznit, Essaouira, Chtouka, Inezgane)
Morocco
Active (argan-oil cooperatives)
Regional cluster
- Location
- SW Morocco (Agadir, Taroudant, Tiznit, Essaouira, Chtouka, Inezgane)
- Coordinates
- ~30.4°N 9.0°W
- Elevation
- Intramontane plain (0–~1,500 m)
- Size
- ~830,000 ha argan forest (reserve ~2.5 million ha; ~21 million trees)
- Age / Founded
- Ancient use; UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 1998
- Status
- Active (argan-oil cooperatives)
- Deity & Religion
- Customary Amazigh management (not deity-based; some marabout-linked stands)
- Community & Guardians
- Amazigh communities; women's argan-oil cooperatives
- Vernacular name
- Arganeraie (argan grove)
- Record type
- Regional cluster
Cultural practices & uses
Argan oil (food/cosmetic/medicine), livestock pasture; bulwark against desertification
Plant species
Argania spinosa (endemic argan tree); 2nd-largest Moroccan forest after holm oak
Biome & fauna
Argan woodland (semi-arid)
Threats & protection
UNESCO Man & Biosphere Reserve; threatened by overuse & desertification
Source
UNESCO MAB Arganeraie; Floristic biodiversity of Morocco's Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve, ESPR 2021