Arganière Reserve: a natural climatic bulwark

This study assesses the carbon storage potential of the Argan Biosphere Reserve (ABR) in the Souss et Dir plain. The analysis focused on two sites (Admine and Ouameslakht), each divided into three zones: core, buffer and transition.At Admine, carbon stocks were 65, 50.73 and 31.63 t C/ha respectively, with no significant difference between zones. For Ouameslakht, they reach 44.75, 31.84 and 19.66 t C/ha, with notable significant differences.The land use study (1998-2021) reveals that the central zone of Admine has undergone forest regression in favor of rangeland, despite restrictions. Ouameslakht, on the other hand, shows an increase in forest area thanks to effective fencing.These results underline the importance of appropriate management to optimize carbon sequestration in these ecosystems, while demonstrating the effectiveness of fencing as a conservation tool.Key words: climate change, carbon sequestration, RBA, core areas, land use dynamics, Admine, Ouameslakht