What is rural geography?

Rural geography is the branch of human geography that studies so-called "rural" spaces — territories with low density where agricultural, forestry or pastoral activity still strongly shapes landscapes, societies and economies.

A plural subject

Morocco's rural spaces are remarkably diverse: the irrigated plains of the Gharb and Haouz, the pre-Saharan oases of the Drâa and Tafilalet, the Rif and Atlas mountains, the eastern steppes, the bour (rainfed) areas of the central plateaus, the Loukkos bocage… Each has its own dynamics.

An integrated approach

Rural geography combines social sciences (economics, sociology, anthropology) and natural sciences (climatology, pedology, ecology) to understand:

• Agrarian systems and their transformations (mechanization, irrigation, inputs, export crops);
• Demographic dynamics (rural exodus, returns, diasporas);
• Environmental challenges (drought, water stress, erosion, biodiversity);
• Public policies (Plan Maroc Vert, Generation Green, advanced regionalization, INDH).

At the service of development

Understanding rural space means helping to transform it sustainably. That is why ANAGERM makes rural geography a lever for integrated development and dialogue between researchers, decision-makers and territories.