Fez — Morocco’s argan forests, a vital ecological and cultural resource, are facing mounting threats from environmental degradation and commercial exploitation. Once celebrated for their resilience in arid conditions, these forests are now declining due to drought, overharvesting, and increasing pressure from the global cosmetics industry.
In southern Morocco, particularly around Essaouira and Agadir, argan oil is traditionally produced by women’s cooperatives.
These cooperatives, rooted in intergenerational knowledge, offer economic opportunities in regions with limited employment. Yet, the sustainability of this livelihood is becoming uncertain.
Climate stress
Argan trees have historically served as natural barriers against desertification and supported local biodiversity. They thrive in dry climates, with deep roots that anchor soil and help retain moisture. However, recent years have seen a significant contraction in forest coverage, with estimates indicating a 40% decline since the early 2000s.
Changes in seasonal cycles due to rising temperatures have disrupted the trees’ flowering and fruiting periods. Prolonged droughts have further weakened tree health, and reduced yields are becoming increasingly common. In many areas, argan groves are being replaced with export-oriented agricultural plots, particularly for citrus and tomatoes, which require far more water and soil nutrients.
Economic inequities and declining wages
Argan oil production is labor-intensive and requires women to manually crack, grind, and press nuts to extract the oil. While the final product commands high prices internationally, the earnings for producers remain disproportionately low. A liter of oil now sells for around $60, a steep rise from previous decades, but producers typically earn only a fraction of this amount.
Although cooperatives are designed to provide steady income and shared profits, many women receive less than the national minimum wage. The growing presence of middlemen and exporters reduces the share that reaches the workers. A complex supply chain often involves multiple intermediaries, each taking a portion of the profits, leaving cooperatives with little negotiating power.
Large multinational firms increasingly dominate the market, with some controlling the majority of exports. These corporations benefit from the ability to fulfill bulk orders and streamline distribution, placing additional pressure on small-scale producers.
Government initiatives and limited progress
To address the environmental decline, the Moroccan government initiated a reforestation project in 2018. This effort involved planting argan trees alongside caper plants in private agricultural plots, aiming to restore forest cover while maintaining soil fertility. The new trees were expected to produce fruit within a few years, but ongoing drought conditions have delayed their maturation.
Plans are also underway to improve storage capacity for cooperatives, allowing them to avoid selling at low prices during harvest peaks. A revised version of this initiative, scheduled for rollout in 2026, seeks to reduce access barriers and improve efficiency. Despite these efforts, many cooperatives report ongoing challenges in maintaining profitability and forest stewardship.
Cultural traditions in decline
The shrinking argan forests signal more than ecological loss. For many rural communities, the trees have long been tied to cultural identity, daily rituals, and social cohesion. The cooperative model reflects traditional methods of resource sharing and communal labor.
However, as younger generations leave rural areas for urban opportunities, and as traditional practices give way to industrial processes, there is concern that these customs may soon vanish. What was once a thriving part of Moroccan heritage is increasingly at risk of being overshadowed by global demand and modern supply chains.
The future of Morocco’s argan industry may depend not only on ecological recovery but also on whether policies and markets can be restructured to value the people and practices that have sustained it for centuries.
