Int'l Day of Argania being observed today

Kathmandu, May 10: The International Day of Argania is being observed across the world today by organizing various awareness programmes on conservation of biodiversity and argania plant.     

Argania is a special plant known worldwide for its significance is agriculture, biodiversity, sustainable ecosystems and cultural heritage. In recognition to this fact, various United Nations agencies had advocated for the protection of argania.     

The UNESCO announced the area where argania is produced as the ‘Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve’ in 1998. Similarly, the traditional knowledge, skills and culture related to the argan tree secured entry in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014.     

Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recognized the argan-based agriculture, forestry and livestock systems in the Ait Mansour region of Morocco as a top agricultural heritage system in December 2018.     

Later in 2021, the UN General Assembly declared May 10 as International Day of Argania. The proposal forwarded by Morocco, a country in the western belt of Africa, was endorsed by 113 UN member states. With this, the Moroccan proposal was unanimously adopted.     

Argan is largely found in Morocco. The argan oil is considered valuable for human health, beauty and nutrition. The argan forests have vital role in sustainable livelihoods of local communities, women empowerment and environmental protection.(RSS)