Protecting Argane Tree Mitigates Effects of Climate Change (GCF Executive Director)
Rabat – Protecting the Argane tree biosphere in Morocco helps mitigate the effects of climate change, ensure the livelihood of communities that depend on it and support women, underlined on Monday the executive director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Yannick Glemarec.
Through the “Development of Argane orchards in Degraded Environment (DARED)” project, “we have worked with the Government of Morocco, the Agricultural Development Agency and the National Agency for the Development of Oasis Areas and Argane trees on new solutions to develop this culture in degraded environments”, said Glemarec during a high-level event initiated by Morocco and the United Nations as part of the first celebration of the international Argane Day.
Within the framework of DARED, “our investment aims to preserve and conserve the Argane tree according to a tripartite approach, namely the protection of the forest cover, the restoration of the soils through the improvement of the resistance and the sustainable management for increased productivity,” he explained.
The financing of this project, which puts women at the heart of the Argane sector, allows the collection and storage of Argane fruits, the acquisition of new techniques in these arid zones, the adoption of international standards as well as the selling at attractive prices through cooperatives, he said.
Thus, the sustainable cultivation of the Argane tree will allow the preservation of the Argan tree and will help the farmers to maximize their income, said Glemarec.
The GFC is also supporting the establishment of the center of excellence which will make it possible to bring together expertise in scientific research, he concluded.
Organized in a hybrid format, this event, chaired by Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests Aziz Akhannouch, is aired on United Nations web TV, YouTube and social networks.
The proclamation of this international day follows the adoption of a resolution, presented by Morocco, to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on March 3, 2021.
