One Health in the Argan Forest

Building on the first One Health garden that was developed in the argan forest in 2021  and then on the second one developed in the cedar forest in 2022, we are now looking at replicating this successful model to other sites in Morocco, one of the richest Mediterranean countries in wild aromatic and medicinal plants.

The One Health gardens we established offer a powerful, community-led model for restoring balance between human, animal, and environmental health.  These gardens improve soil fertility, enhance biodiversity, and support the health of all. They contribute to human well-being through access to  medicinal plants, and a deeper connection to traditional ecological knowledge. In doing so, the gardens create green spaces that serve as living classrooms and healing environments for communities facing increasing pressures from climate change, land degradation, and social vulnerability.

These gardens are more than local interventions—they represent a replicable blueprint for climate resilience and One Health action across Morocco’s diverse ecosystems. Whether in mountainous regions, semi-arid zones, or oases, the principles guiding these gardens—community participation, ecological regeneration, and integrated health—can be adapted to local contexts to support food security, diversify income sources, and protect vital biodiversity. By investing in similar initiatives nationwide, Morocco can foster more resilient ecosystems and communities, while demonstrating leadership in linking environmental stewardship with human and animal well-being.