The Sprout - Cultural Center of Marrakesh

Morocco is recognized for its dry environment, which is made up of 78 percent desert. The expanding Sahara Desert is in danger to turn more of Morocco into a wasteland on its Eastern and Southern boundary. Morocco’s Argan trees have been the country’s principal natural defense against the desert expansion. Argan forest serves as a buffer zone between the living and dry zones in Morocco, preventing desertification. The trees help to preserve water and provide many of Morocco’s green spaces to form oasis areas.

“A Miracle in the Moroccan desert” This is a phrase used to refer to a type of tree that originated in Morocco, the only place in the world and Moroccans value this tree as the national tree or the tree of life. This tree is known as the Argan tree. The argan tree was born in Morocco, which is well adapted to semi-desert environments; they have long root systems that spread deep into the soil in search of water, and their small leaves help reduce water loss along with collecting humidity from the air. The Argan tree is considered part of the Marrakesh way of life because every aspect of the tree can assist the economy, society and environment to the local people.