Morocco is an extensive botanical field and a natural laboratory for the interplay of climate, topography, and human history. Estimates indicate that the Kingdom hosts approximately 4,200 vascular plant species, of which around 22% (≈879 species and subspecies) are endemic — species that do not occur outside Morocco or the western Mediterranean basin. These endemic taxa are primarily concentrated in mountain ranges such as the Rif, Middle Atlas, and High Atlas, positioning Morocco among the richest countries in plant biodiversity in the Mediterranean region, and giving it a unique status for species conservation and study.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Spatially and altitudinally, vegetation formations range from coastal plains and low basins to high mountain belts. Argania spinosa (argan) represents a critical ecological system in the southwest, covering roughly one million hectares of arid and semi-arid lands within its main range. This species is a vital economic and research resource, associated with traditional local practices for producing argan oil. In the highlands, Cedrus atlantica (Atlas cedar) and conifers such as Pinus nigra, Pinus halepensis, and junipers (Juniperus spp.) are prominent, while Quercus ilex (holm oak) and Quercus suber (cork oak) dominate certain Mediterranean belts. Vegetation varies according to altitude, slope aspect, and soil characteristics.
Regarding medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), Morocco conserves roughly 800 species traditionally used for therapeutic or aromatic purposes. Of these, about 280 species have undergone preliminary phytochemical or pharmacological studies, while approximately 20 species are currently exploited industrially for essential oils or cosmetics. This gap highlights significant research and economic potential, alongside an urgent need for investment in safety, efficacy studies, and responsible production.
Regionally, the eastern and southeastern Morocco and the Atlas show specialized floristic assemblages. Dades and M’Goun oases (including Dades, Todra, and surrounding areas in the southeast) are located in the High Atlas basin, hosting vegetation adapted to intermittent moisture and both montane and desert influences. Field studies in the Dades basin report persistent resilience of local plants, but also decline in grazing-related forage species due to climate change and overgrazing, with localized high rates of vegetation degradation.
In the Aït Bougmez Valley (≈1,800–3,700 m), the central zone of the High Atlas, vegetation belts clearly shift from Mediterranean montane to higher Euro-Mediterranean zones. This region exhibits unique species adapted to altitude, alongside traditional agricultural practices that have shaped the landscape over centuries.
Examples of key plants and herbs, with traditional and potential medicinal uses, include Artemisia herba-alba (white wormwood), traditionally employed as an antiseptic and antispasmodic; Thymus spp. (thyme), Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary), and Lavandula spp. (lavender), whose essential oils are valued in folk medicine and perfumery; and Argania spinosa, whose oil nourishes the skin and has commercial value. Endemic species in the Atlas contain unique compounds with untapped pharmacological potential. Current reviews indicate that many traditional uses lack comprehensive clinical studies to confirm efficacy and safe dosage.
Geographically, endemic species are concentrated in the High Atlas, Middle Atlas, and Rif, while southern desert and steppe areas host flora adapted to drought and salinity. These taxa represent a critical genetic reservoir for resilience to water and heat stress, a growing research priority under climate change scenarios.
Historically and anthropologically, management practices of Morocco’s vegetation have been linked to long-standing agricultural and pastoral traditions: oasis irrigation systems, woodland pruning, and traditional harvesting of herbs allowed communities to persist over centuries. Modern pressures — urbanization, intensive grazing, agricultural expansion, and recurring droughts — have caused partial loss of this environmental heritage. Recent development programs aiming to rehabilitate oases also highlight integrating medicinal and aromatic plants as sustainable income sources in the Dades basin and Drâa oases.
Threats to plant diversity are well documented: increasing aridity, water stress, overgrazing, soil degradation, and urban expansion. Field studies in Dades and other regions report varied local degradation rates, with some areas experiencing extremely high declines. This situation requires effective protection strategies, including identifying sensitive areas, supporting renewed traditional management systems, and promoting research and documentation projects for local plant assemblages.
Future research and clinical practices urgently require standardized botanical surveys in Dades, M’Goun, Aït Bougemmaz, and southeastern regions; detailed chemical and pharmacological studies of approximately 280 species currently under preliminary investigation; and safety and efficacy trials for traditionally used plants before their economic integration. Integrating local knowledge — from elders, pastoralists, and farmers — into scientific protocols provides a more sustainable and ethical framework for the reasonable use of these resources.
Morocco Ambience Tours envisions this situation as an opportunity to develop scientific-tourism programs: organizing field trips in the High Atlas and Anti-Atlas, guided oasis tours (Dades, M’Goun, Drâa) with botanical guides, workshops on medicinal and aromatic plants, and digital documentation of target species (macro photography, protected samples, GPS mapping). Such programs enhance visitor experience while opening funding channels for local projects that protect and capitalize on botanical knowledge, respecting legal conservation frameworks.
In conclusion, Morocco possesses a botanical wealth of quantitative and qualitative dimensions, establishing it as an important center for studies of biodiversity, medicinal plants, and aromatic flora. Focusing research and development activities on key areas (High Atlas, Anti-Atlas, Dades and M’Goun oases, deep oases such as Aït Bougemmaz, and desert plains) can yield practical results for both local communities and scientific research. Investment in standardized surveys, chemical-pharmacological studies, and scientific-tourism programs can transform this natural stock into a sustainable source of knowledge and local income, with conservation remaining a foundational approach for future generations.
