Pastoral structure in Tindouf’s argan grove (Algerian Sahara)

Our argan heritage is found in its natural state in the north-west of the wilaya of Tindouf, in the south-west of the Algerian Sahara. The argan tree, a xerothermophilous species, is a sylvo-pastoral vocation. It is currently suffering from prolonged aridity and anthropogenic damage, specifically overgrazing. This study analysed the pastoral structure. Grazing is dominated by goats (85%) compared with camels (13%). Once the source of water supply became available through the creation of boreholes within the Arganeraie reserve, the Saharawi nomads changed their way of life from nomadic pastoralists to sedentary pastoralists. In times of prolonged drought, when fodder resources have become very scarce, they reduce the number of head and divide the grazing land into small units. It should be noted here that there is temporary uncontrolled grazing, which increases immediately after rainfall, which re-extinguishes the grass and, as a result, reduces the renewal capacity of the argan tree plant formation.