Journal of Forest Economics > Vol 40 > Issue 4

The Challenge of Sustainability of the Moroccan Argan Grove: A Neo-Institutional Analysis

El Morchid Brahim, Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco, Margoum Mohammed Amine, Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco, m.margoum@uca.ac.ma
 
Suggested Citation
El Morchid Brahim and Margoum Mohammed Amine (2025), "The Challenge of Sustainability of the Moroccan Argan Grove: A Neo-Institutional Analysis", Journal of Forest Economics: Vol. 40: No. 4, pp 355-382. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/112.00000597

Publication Date: 05 Nov 2025
© 2025 E. M. Brahim and M. M. Amine
 
Subjects
Management structure, governance and performance,  Government programs and public policy,  Environmental economics,  Law and economics,  Public economics,  Forestry,  Government,  Public policy
 
Keywords
Argan GroveSustainabilityBiodiversityGovernanceNeo-Institutional.
 

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In this article:
1 Introduction 
2 Theoretical Background: Neo-Institutional Analysis of Forest Governance 
3 The Argan Grove in Morocco: An Endemic Ecosystem in Central-West Morocco 
4 The Argan Grove in Morocco: An Endangered Ecosystem 
5 Understanding the Governance Failure in Morocco's Argan Forest Ecosystem: An Institutional Response 
6 Conclusion 
References 

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze several issues related to the argan grove as a product of human construction and institutional arrangements. Despite its renowned resilience to drought, this ecosystem has experienced a decline due to various anthropogenic factors. Its contribution to ecological balance and biodiversity preservation has been seen to gradually slow down. Faced with the weight of various stakeholders' private interests involved in forest exploitation, informal forest governance institutions have gradually collapsed. At the same time, the existing relatively weak formal institutions have been inadequately effective in replacing the old ones. In addition, they were not renewed to adapt to the new situation of protecting the argan tree ecosystem. An institutional breakdown then occurred, paving the way for new irresponsible behaviors and harmful practices for the forest.

DOI:10.1561/112.00000597