Sarkis: Syria Committed to management of Nature Reserves

DAMASCUS, (ST) – The Minister of State for Environment Affairs, Dr. Nazira Sarkis, underlined that Syria’s joining to all international environmental conventions on the protection of biodiversity is part of its commitment to the protection of biodiversity and management of nature reserves and wildlife.

Dr. Sarkis recently opened here a training workshop about wildlife monitoring and management of protected areas within the framework of the project to strengthen regional capacity in the area of management and sustainable protection of wildlife and nature reserves in the Near East region which is funded by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The minister pointed to the importance of protection of biodiversity and the sustainable use of the present and future generations through the creation and establishment of reserves that apply the latest methods and techniques of management and effective operation to maintain this natural wealth of national importance and global levels

For his part, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, Abdul Karim al –Lahham, clarified that the project to strengthen regional capacity in the area of management and sustainable protection of wildlife and nature reserves embodies the existing cooperation between Syria and the FAO in the context of technical support and capabilities building in various fields.

For her part, the FAO Resident Representative, Eriko Hebe, explained that the workshop falls within the framework of a regional project to share experiences and learn from the experiences to enhance the capabilities in the management of protected areas and biodiversity, raise public awareness and scientific research and actions to be implemented in the management of protected areas.

The FAO Resident Representative noted “the capabilities, knowledge and large experience owned by Syria in the management of protected areas and biodiversity,” stressing “the continuation of the organization in cooperation with the Syrian government and providing technical support” at the current stage in various fields, particularly in the development of forestry policy and projects in desert areas and reserves, and others.

The workshop included many themes that focused on the definition of the importance of forestry and reserves as a habitat for wildlife and international environmental conventions related to wildlife and the national classification of protected sites, ecosystem services and the application of geographical information system in Syrian pastoral reserves and forest nature reserves in Syrian legislations and concepts of  modern management for the reserves and conduct exercises for participants about the expected services from the selected reserves.

The opening ceremony of the four-day workshop was attended by the Deputy State Minister for the Environment, Eng. Suleiman Kalou and the FAO in Executive Director in Syria, Salim Zahweh, and managers involved in the ministries of Agriculture and Environment.

Sharif el -Khatib