Expanding Cooperation with Academic Research Institutions to Find Solutions to Environmental Problems

DAMASCUS, (ST) – DAMASCUS, (ST) – Activities of the  2nd  Environmental Research Conference recently started here on the auditorium of Damascus University and discussed  the agricultural waste to get environmentally friendly products and on the tarmac at the University of Damascus.

The three-day conference discussed a study concerning economic, social and environmental effects of the optimal uses of waste production and agro-processing and technologies used to improve the nutritional value of agricultural residues and other topics of scientific environmental research.

The Minister of State for Environmental Affairs, Dr. Nazira Sarkis, underlined that that the government pays special attention to scientific research and the development of education, universities and research centers, and reform of laws and regulations to ensure the construction of a modern advanced society on scientific basis.

Dr. Sarkis clarified that her Ministry had worked to develop a comprehensive and integrated strategy to combat pollution in all its forms and to improve the environmental situation currently in coopration with bodies concerned. The ministry, she added, is seeking to expand cooperation with academic and research institutions to find solutions to environmental problems, encourage research on the environmental issues and contribute to the reduction of pollution, working to invest in the scientific field of information systems, which play a big role in the service of sound management of natural resources and environment protection.

The ministry also seeks to set up an integrated data bank serves the work of the National Environmental Observatory and environmental information center for monitoring the environmental situation.

“Syria was one of the first countries that have joined the international environmental conventions on climate change, combatting desertification and biodiversity. Syria also signed agreements and MoUs for bilateral cooperation in the field of protection of the environment with a number of countries and called to participate actively in addressing environmental impacts and to provide solutions and treatments and comprehend scientific development in these areas,” the Minister noted.

President of Damascus University, Dr. Mohammed Amer al-Mardini, pointed out that the challenges face the environment in Syria impos the search in several topics including environmental resources and the potential of investing them to meet the needs of the community and the requirements of sustainable development. and in particular to the lost and wasted in agricultural production and processing constitute the bulk pointing out that agricultural residues form in this context an urgent and  comprehensive problem, and an opportunity to deepen the relationship between scientific research at the university and issues of community.

Dr Mardini pointed out to the importance of conducting environment scientific research between academic institutions and other service institutions. The balanced development, he added, takes into account the lower costs; maintain the health and preservation of the environment, increase employment and youth employment in the context of securing good use of the capabilities of individuals and their knowledge and potentials and the available environmental resources.

For his part, Director of the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Areas (ACSAD), Dr. Rafiq Ali Saleh, explained that improper disposal of agricultural waste reflects wrong practices. Such practices help wasting an important productive element that would contribute to reducing the cost of production, increasing soil fertility, supporting necessary feed resources and the possibility of creating a climate for small income generating to support rural development.

particularly as agribusiness overcome most of the activities of population in the Arab region, which is Situated habitat important for the diversity of animal and plant pointing out that the Arab Center attaches importance and wide for these activities in Arab countries

The conference recommended benefiting from agricultural waste products to get environment-friendly products through adopting a database of the National Observatory for Environment, waste availability and areas of existence and utilization, the need for the application of scientific research and environmental contact with the immediate environmental issues.

Participants called on adopting the participation in dealing with environmental problems through ensuring requirements of applied scientific research, activating the agreements and memoranda of cooperation with research institutions, civil society. They called on activating the role of guiding farmers on investing the agricultural waste, encouraging economic and social studies. They also underlined the adoption of a special database concerning the conference and the follow-up of researches in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry, public and private bodies for the establishment of small projects in coordination with the researchers.

The participants pointed to the need for holding seminars and conferences in line with the priorities of environmental problems and serving the strategy of the Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs in protecting the environment and achieving sustainable development.

 “The ministry will prepare a joint work programs with universities and research institutions to develop and implement environmental, social and media researches that deal with the change of behavior at productive communities, referring to the need to establish this conference annually,” the minister pointed out.

Sh. Kh.