The objectives of this study were (i) to identify the native AM fungi associated with C. atlantica and (ii) to determine the effect of inoculation with native AM fungi on the establishment of this tree species in a degraded site in Morocco. Soil samples were collected from the rhizosphere of C. atlantica trees in the N'Fis valley (Haut Atlas, Morocco). Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) spores were extracted from the soil, identified and this mixture of native AM fungi was propagated on maize (Zea mays L.) for 12 weeks on a sterilized soil to enrich the fungal inoculum. Then C. atlantica seedlings were inoculated with mycorrhized maize roots or not (control), cultured in glasshouse conditions and further, transplanted into the field. The experiment was a randomized block design with one factor and three replication blocks. The results showed that a high AM fungal diversity was associated with C. atlantica at the Idni station, native AM fungi inoculation was very effective on the growth of C. atlantica seedlings in glasshouse conditions and this plant growth stimulation was maintained after outplanting. These results showed that the use of native AM fungi as a source of AM inoculum could be of great relevance to accelerate the process of reafforestation in arid and semiarid degraded soils.