Ilemchane Transhumant Pastoralists' Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Adaptive Strategies: Continuity and Change in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains

Mountain rangelands are critical resources for mobile pastoralists, and they provide benefits to humankind broadly. Yet mountain pastoral social–ecological systems (SESs) face challenges that affect both mountains rangelands. Herders' traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) underpins their adaptive strategies serves as a resource future adaptation. This holistic case study of Ilemchane transhumant herders in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains applies simple framework explore how herders' biophysical TEK, practices, institutions interrelate climate social changes the SES. Using participant observation, interviews, surveys, we find climate, plant, shape practices institutions, which turn reinforce or alter TEK. Building on recent synthesis SES, identify paradox remoteness, wherein remoteness maintains culture TEK threatens it. Overcoming this may require internal organization, collective action, external support.