This study assesses community-based tourism as an innovation mechanism for protected areas by examining Agdal commons, traditional seasonal resource-closure systems, in Oukaimden (Toubkal National Park) and Tiout (Argan Grove Biosphere Reserve), Morocco. Through exploratory fieldwork comprising eleven semi-structured interviews with forest rights holders, cooperative members, and local governance councils (Jmaa), complemented by correspondence factor analysis, hierarchical classification, and lexical visualization techniques, the research identifies three organizing dimensions of stakeholder discourse: ecological stewardship anchored in Agdal practices, territorial relationships linking place-people-resources, and institutional coordination through cooperatives and associations. Findings reveal that while Agdal terminology pervades local narratives as shorthand for intergenerational ecological knowledge and adaptive regulation, tourism-driven livelihood diversification risks fragmenting external tourism expertise from indigenous governance norms unless deliberately integrated through certified agro-sylvo-pastoral value chains such as cooperative-marketed argan oil. Oukaimden demonstrates underutilized ecotourism capacity beyond its winter-sports focus, whereas Tiout exhibits more mature community tourism adoption. The study proposes actionable policy frameworks that couple community-based tourism development with product certification, cooperative strengthening, and environmental safeguards to prevent resource degradation and social displacement, thereby advancing equitable transitions toward locally controlled, low-impact tourism models within Morocco's biosphere reserves. Although tourism and natural resource management are often perceived as distinct areas, they are interconnected and have significant implications for local populations. Tourism in Oukaimden and Tiout can provide development opportunities but can also put pressure on natural resources. The paper highlights the community approach through a significant observation and interviews carried in both communes. Developing a system of measures and policies to promote the adoption of community tourism, along with implementation mechanisms, positioning it as a key strategy for ensuring a successful transition.