Argania spinosa L. , endemic to south-western Morocco, underpins a distinctive agro-silvopastoral landscape where biodiversity conservation, soil stabilization, cultural practices, and rural economies are closely intertwined. Evidence consistently indicates declining natural regeneration and reduced stand density, driven by land-use change, high grazing pressure, and recurrent drought. Climate projections suggest substantial contraction of suitable habitat, with consequences for household income, tree yield, and forage supply. On the socio-economic side, women-led cooperatives remain central to oil production, yet livelihoods are exposed to resource decline, market volatility, quality control challenges, limited finance and infrastructure constraints, and unequal value capture along the chain. The review identifies promising leverage points: improved silviculture and assisted regeneration; adaptive grazing management; restoration planning informed by water and soil constraints; experimentation with domestication beyond the current range; innovation in extraction technologies; and clearer, enforceable rights of use with stronger cooperative bargaining power. Long-term sustainability will depend on integrated ecological restoration, climate-resilient regional planning, and equitable institutional arrangements that balance conservation with rural development. Future research priorities include identifying climate-tolerant germplasm, testing regeneration under stress, and evaluating governance mechanisms that secure both ecosystem integrity and local livelihoods. Bioclimatic assessments also point to emerging suitable niches in the western Mediterranean, supporting restoration applications beyond Morocco in the coming decades.
Chebli et al. (Sun,) studied this question.