One Health in the Argan Forest

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.

One Health is now becoming increasingly recognized in Morocco with our sister organization One Health Maroc Association which has helped organized a key workshop last year at the Institute Royal of Strategic Studies. As a result, One Health is now recognized as a strategix axis for the country to increase its resilience in the face of multi-dimensional shocks and crises.

We are translating this into action with the planning of future One Health campaigns in villages in the next few months where the One Health gardens were created. This will involve combined rabies vaccination campaigns and human health prevention campaings in remote villages. We need your support to help organize these campaigns which will raise awareness on the linkages between human health, animal health and environmental health and help prevent some zoonotc diseases such as rabies.