The High Atlas Foundation (HAF) has achieved widespread success in its work to promote sustainable planting of endemic tree varieties in the oriental Oujda region of Morocco. HAF’s agricultural initiatives supply farmers with trees and plants, supporting the transition to more resilient, diversified food systems and economies. HAF has now expanded its impact by offering a carbon offset credit program for farmers across the country.

Since the start of 2024 and across seven provinces and 22 villages and communes, HAF has worked with 229 farmers to plant a total of 196,887 trees of varying species. The majority of these trees have been olive (172,960) but also importantly include almond, carob, fig, and pomegranate varieties. Providing native trees like these while simultaneously supporting capacity-building for growing, harvesting, processing, and selling of products is a powerful way to support larger sustainable agricultural development.

In addition to distribution of trees, monitoring of planted trees has been essential for success. HAF has monitored 192,312 trees planted with farmers; this includes 136,396 trees for carbon offset credits under 92 participant agreements signed with farmers. Carbon markets offer a revolutionary opportunity for many farming families to expand their economic options beyond typical agricultural production while strengthening environmental stewardship.

Building off of the success seen in 2024 with distribution and monitoring of trees in this region, HAF is implementing this program across the country - in all 12 regions of Morocco - to make the benefits of sustainable agriculture and carbon credits accessible to small landholder farming families.