One Health in the Argan Forest

On 8th September 2023 a devastating earthquake of magnitude 6.8 struck Morocco, killing around 2,900 people and leaving thousands injured. The epicentre was in the High Atlas Mountains  with significant repercussions in the whole region where our project is located near Agadir. Entire villages were destroyed with traditionally built houses collapsing, landslides cutting access to entire areas and infrastructures disappearing.

In the first hours of this tragedy, people ran for their lives and tried to find a place where they felt safe. Some families found a refuge in the One Health garden we created, bringing safety and a sense of security as people could reunite during this tragedy. They stayed there for days as they waited in anxiety for possible aftershocks.

The overall response of the Moroccan authorities together with the Moroccan people, businesses and all institutions has been truly remarkable, delivering urgent medical and humanitarian response in a timely and most efficient manner. As the country is entering a new phase of rebuilding while supporting those who suffered the most, the One Health gardens provide a beacon of hope.

Hope for the future as it is well established that there is a strong need for psychological support to those most severely affected by the crisis, and finding solace in these One Health gardens will be an important element to this. Hope for the future again as the One Health gardens will be able to provide some additional income to families who have lost their houses and livestock. Hope for the future always as the One Health gardens allow to pass on precious and unique traditional knowledge vital to people’s health and livelihood.

The argan tree is also called the "tree of life" and is a perfect example of a symbiosis between nature, animals and humans. It supports the livelihood of more than 2 million people through the production of argan oil by local women with unique traditional knowhow, it provides a shield against desertification and also supports animal population including the famous argan goat. The argan forest also harbours an incredible biodiversity with aromatic and medicinal plants which are used locally by families whose environmental knowledge is transmitted from mothers to daugthers. Recently, more than 100 plants from the aragn forest have been screened for antifungal properties and nearly 90% of them showed potent antig-fungal activity with potential practical applications in the treatment of nosocomial infections.  

In order to preserve such unique biodiversity and ensure the inter-generational  transmission of traditional knowledge associated with aromatic and medicinal plants,we have developed the first One Health garden in the argan forest which is managed by women of an argan oil cooperative. After more than a year of being started, this garden has received such considerable attention and pride from the local women that together with them, we are expanding the garden from an initial 200m2 to 7000m2. Join us in this One Health endeavour by supporting One Health gardens.