Analysis of socio-economic mutations in the Benslimane forest Lever for sustainable development (Province of Benslimane,Morocco)

The benslimane forest,which is part of the geographical region of the atlantic cork oak,is characterized by remarkable floristic and faunistic diversity,its contributes to the biological and ecological balance and have a very important socio-economic role. as part of the integrated management of this forest massif,and in order to deepen its knowledge about the integration of the population and the changes in its socio-economic environment,we have identified characteristics socio-demographic analysis,analysis of space exploitation and management systems and forestry practices related to the management of the natural environment,based on the analysis of available data,participatory workshops and socio-economic surveys on a representative sample of user douars. the estimated population of 15350,approximately 2578 households,is moderately poor with a poverty rate of 12.8. its socio-economic environment is characterized by a deficit in basic infrastructure and an acceleration of the rural exodus. agriculture,mainly subsistence farming,combined with extensive livestock farming,are the main activities of this population. agricultural activity in the study area is based on agro-sylvo pastoralism,with livestock mainly composed of sheep and cattle. indeed,the forest of benslimane suffers from an acute overgrazing,with a herd of 50046 bup,an overgrazing rate of 73% and a length of stay in the forest of 228 days per year. © 2017,university of mohammed premier oujda morocco