Local Projects to Mitigate the Effects of Desertification

DAMASCUS – The World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is observed every year on 17 June to spread awareness among people about the cooperation required to combat desertification and the effects of drought. No doubt that desertification and drought are main problems seen globally and affect all regions of the world.

World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is a unique event that remind people in the world that land degradation neutrality can be achieved when there will be cooperation at all levels, strong involvement of the community and problem-solving. This day also celebrates the progress made by the countries on sustainable land management and what should be done in the world so that land degradation neutrality will provide a solid basis for poverty reduction, food, water security, climate change, mitigation and adaptation.

Syria joined to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) since 1994, the Directorate of Biodiversity, Land and Protected Areas of the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment, in cooperation with several agencies, is following up the implementation of the National Plan to Combat Desertification.

The Directorate is currently carrying out two projects in this area, namely the application of national indicators of land degradation and desertification in land degradation assessment and the preparation of strategies to address the problems of land degradation and desertification resulting from the terrorist war on Syria using land degradation indicators in cooperation with ACSAD, according to the Director of Biological Diversity at the Ministry Eng. Bilal Al-Hayek.

Mr. Al-Hayek said in a statement to SANA that work is also underway to study and monitor natural phenomena through the use of satellite imagery and mitigation by taking the necessary measures and the necessary precautions to mitigate their effects on population and resources, Pointing out that since 2017, the Land Degradation Study Project has been implemented by using remote sensing techniques and geographic information system (GIS) in the coastal region. 

He pointed to the preparation of a program to neutralize the effects of land degradation at the national level, which contributes to combating desertification and restoring land and degraded soil affected by drought and floods.

On the occasion of the World Day, the United Nations will select the title for its campaign this year to “build the future together”, warning that 135 million people will be displaced by 2045 due to desertification and 1.8 billion people suffering from water scarcity by 2035.

Sharif Al -Khatib