Morocco’s argan forests face crisis amid growing global demand

Argan oil, once a local staple, is now a prized global cosmetic. But its booming popularity is threatening the very forests that produce it. In Morocco, women spend days hand-processing kernels for minimal pay—just $3 per kilogram—while multinational corporations reap massive profits, the Associated Press reports.

The surge in demand has led to overharvesting, worsened by severe drought, leaving argan trees bearing less fruit and forests thinning. Once a barrier against desertification, the argan belt has reportedly shrunk by 40% since 2000. Climate change has pushed flowering seasons out of sync, and goats, camels, and overgrazing further damage young trees.

Traditional communal forest management has broken down, replaced by theft and land conversion for export crops. Meanwhile, middlemen dominate the supply chain, cutting into profits meant for cooperatives. Some, like French company Olvea, reportedly control up to 70% of exports.

To counter this, Morocco launched a reforestation project in 2018, planting argan trees with capers in an intercropping system to conserve water and restore soil. The government has also pledged to build storage centers to help cooperatives sell at better prices, though earlier efforts have fallen short.

Despite the challenges, women continue harvesting—many out of necessity. As younger generations move to cities, elders fear both the trees and traditions may vanish.

“We must protect the tree,” said Hafida El Hantati of the Ajddigue cooperative. “If we lose it, we lose who we are.”