Analyse de l’évolution du système pastoral du Maroc oriental

Abstract

Le système pastoral des hauts plateaux du Maroc oriental est caractérisé par l’étendue des parcours (3,2 millions d’hectares) et la dominance de l’élevage ovin (1,2 million de têtes). Ce travail, mené à Béni Mathar au nord et à Maâtarka au sud, traite la question des changements d’occupation des terres de parcours et de conduite des troupeaux, à partir de l’hypothèse d’une dégradation des parcours suivie d’une baisse de la pression de pâturage. Cette dynamique est perçue par l’étude de l’occupation des sols en 1970, 1988 et 2013. Les modes de conduite sont identifiés au travers d’enquêtes (85) et lors d’ateliers participatifs. L’analyse de l’occupation des sols montre la régression des bonnes formations végétales et leur substitution par des formations de moindre valeur, et une baisse des apports fourragers sur parcours. Parallèlement, on note une augmentation des effectifs d’animaux de moins en moins mobiles et de plus en plus supplémentés (20 à 40 p. 100 de satisfaction des besoins, essentiellement par l’orge et le son de blé), et un changement progressif dans la composition raciale des troupeaux en faveur de la race Ouled Djellal (à valeur commerciale compétitive) au détriment de la race locale Béni Guil. L’histoire de la société pastorale étudiée témoigne d’une capacité d’adaptation malgré les perturbations socio-économiques et climatiques relevées depuis l’indépendance. Les grands éleveurs (plus de 200 brebis) profitent davantage des pâturages et savent mieux spéculer lors de la commercialisation que les petits éleveurs (moins de 50 brebis) qui sont davantage menacés par l’abandon de l’élevage.

Genetic homogenization of indigenous sheep breeds in Northwest Africa

“…These have shown that over the last few decades there has been a significant intensification of crossing practices between Ouled-Djellal and this breed in private farms: Bechchari et al . 25 described an “invasion phenomenon” characterized by a growing number of Ouled-Djellal in Beni-Guil herds. According to interviews conducted by Bechchari et al .…”

“…According to interviews conducted by Bechchari et al . 25 , it seems that the expansion of the Ouled-Djellal breed is mainly the result of the sedentarization and intensification of agriculture, i . e ., breeders, who are under increasing pressure to improve productivity, favor Ouled-Djellal for its market value.…”

Sheep meat Beni-Guil breed: A local meat labeled PGI to promote quality and preserve biodiversity in Morocco

“…This finding could be explained by the breeding system and the pasture availability and diversity between studied cradles. In the Cr2, the breeding system is more extensive than Cr1, where the Artemisia herbaalba and Stipa tenacissima formations are in an advanced degradation state compared to Cr2 [8]. Consequently, the farmers of Cr1 adopt a semiextensive system using barley and Lucerne hay as a food supplementation to satisfy the different needs of their herds.…”

Perception and adaptation of pastoralists to climate variability and change in Morocco's arid rangelands

“…These include a fall in forage production from rangelands and amplified water stress, leading to a scarcity of fodder and water resources (Mahyou et al, 2010;Maâtougui et al, 2011), which in turn increases competition over existing pastoral resources (Bourbouze and El Aich, 2000). In addition, climate change and extremes (droughts) are one of the main factors responsible for rangeland degradation in the high plateaus of eastern Morocco, which has also been generated by overgrazing, clearing and conversion of rangelands into cultivated land as well as an inefficient pasture management (Mahyou et al, 2010;Maâtougui et al, 2011;Schilling et al, 2012;Bechchari et al, 2014;Lang et al, 2021). Furthermore, extreme weather events induced by CC have increased poverty among poor smallscale pastoralists and rural-urban migration (El Harizi et al, 2005) and exacerbated social inequalities among pastoralists, especially during persistent droughts (Schilling et al, 2012).…”

“…After severe or prolonged droughts, it is very difficult for small-scale pastoralists to reconstitute their herds. Conversely, large-scale pastoralists are relatively less dependent on natural resources for the formation of their income, have the financial means to buy animal feed even in times of crisis, and above all they can reconstitute their herds once the climatic conditions become more favorable or after the advent of subsidized feed (Kuhn et al, 2010;Bechchari et al, 2014). Hence, the poorest pastoralists with livestock -based livelihoods J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f are hardest hit owing to their increased vulnerability to the adverse consequences of climate change and extremes (Snaibi, 2020b).…”