Towards inclusive environmental governance in the Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve, Morocco

Abstract

International audience ; Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve (ABR) in Morocco was established in 1998. Today the reserve covers 2.5 million hectares and more than 3 million people and, as such, it has been a complex social-ecological system to govern. Authors draw on post-normal conservation science and environmental governance studies to investigateenvironmental governance processes within the ABR and shed light on their out-comes and challenges to date.First, authors analyse how Moroccan institutions are managing this vast territory. Second, we look at perceptions of an extended peer community of decision-makers.This research adds an empirical case study to the North African region and ad-dresses two main weaknesses of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves worldwide: 1) effectivegovernance and 2) shortcomings in their implementation.Through an ethnographic approach, we are able to point out how low strategic pri-ority and a weak political will regarding the ABR may be hindering inclusive environmental governance. The authors suggest some key aspects for improving the existing governance system; various baseline needs and barriers that may be addressed in advance; a set of drivers, and several proposals for inclusive governance in the ABR. This study should prompt academia, policy- and decision-makers to identify and enhance synergies that allow for a shared vision of their territory