Mediterranean forests are found in the Mediterranean basin, California, the South African Cape Province, South and southwestern Australia and parts of Central Chile. They represent 1.8 % of the world forest areas of which the vast majority is found in the Mediterranean basin, where historical and paleogeographic episodes, long-term human influence and geographical and climatic contrasts have created ecosystemic diversity and heterogeneity. Even if evergreen is dominant, deciduous trees are also represented, with different forest types including dense stands with a closed canopy (forests sensu stricto) and pre-forestal or pre-steppic structures with lower trees density and height. The Mediterranean basin is also a hot spot of forest species and genetic diversity, with 290 woody species versus only 135 for non-Mediterranean Europe. However, the characteristics of the Mediterranean area (long-standing anthropogenic pressure, significant current human activity and broad biodiversity) make it one of the world’s regions most threatened by current changes. Four examples of Mediterranean forest types, present in south and north of the Mediterranean basin and more or less threatened, are developed in order to show that linking “hard sciences” and humanities and social sciences is necessary to understand these complex ecosystems. We show also that these forests, in spite of specific climatic constraints, can also be healthy and productive and play a major ecological and social role. Furthermore, even if the current human activity and global change constitute a risk for these exceptional ecosystems, Mediterranean forests represent a great asset and opportunities for the future of the Mediterranean basin

On the basis of two case studies in rural Morocco, one in a mountainous area of the Central High Atlas and the other in the argan tree area of the southwest Atlantic coast, we show how local Berber populations have actively shaped their forest areas through endogenous management systems at different scales: 1) at the individual tree level by differential cutting or trimming which lead to specific conformations of the tree, 2) at the tree stand level, by determining the type, structure and level of resources, and 3) at the landscape level in which complementary patches of forest areas with particular functions are consciously organized within the overall territory. These practices are strongly linked with the overall socioeconomic organization of the local communities, and mix individual with common rights of access and uses. Forests are viewed as part of the domestic sphere of local livelihoods. Hence, they typically constitute what we refer to as rural or domestic forests since they integrate production and conservation with social, political and spiritual dimensions. These features are of importance for considering foresterlocal community relationships, and for developing alternative forest management policies.

Résumé Denrée prisée par des grands cuisiniers ou composant de cosmétiques de luxe, l’huile d’argan marocaine présentée commercialement comme un produit fabriqué par les femmes, issue d’un arbre forestier et de pratiques purement sylvicoles, suscite depuis quelques années un intérêt soudain de la part de divers marchés. Cependant, malgré la célébrité de cette huile, vague est la représentation que se font les consommateurs de son origine, hormis l’image d’Épinal d’un arbre à chèvre endémique au Maroc, l’arganier (argania spinosa) , dont les fruits à noix donnent une huile aux vertus miraculeuses. À l’aube de la création d’une appellation d’origine sur l’huile d’argan, une réflexion scientifique ayant pour objet de cerner l’impact sur les pratiques et savoirs locaux provoqué par l’explosion du marché de l’huile d’argan et par la multiplication des acteurs de développement dans la « zone arganeraie » semble s’imposer. À partir de l’exemple des politiques de valorisation de la filière huile d’argan, cette article démontre l’existence d’un processus de naturalisation des écosystèmes, d’abord symbolique puis pratique, engendré par l’action des développeurs.