Afforestation campaign in Eastern Ghouta, Damascus countryside

With the aim of increasing the green area in Damascus and its surroundings, and on the occasion of the 72nd Tree Day and within the national afforestation campaign launched under the slogan: “Together We Plant Our Land”, the Damascus and its Countryside Chamber of Agriculture, in cooperation with the Directorate of Agriculture of Damascus and its Countryside, as well as civil and popular activities today implemented an afforestation campaign in a number of towns and sites in Eastern Ghouta.

Member of the People’s Assembly Basem Sudan pointed out that today’s campaign is the culmination of previous campaigns launched in all governorates, in order to restore what was cut during the years of war so as to restore the green cover of Eastern Ghouta, explaining that about 4,000 apricot trees will be planted, given that the region is famous for its cultivation.

In turn, the Director of Agriculture in Damascus and its countryside Irfan Ziadeh stated that today’s campaign is one of the campaigns supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform to plant home gardens and restore trees that were cut down and burned, especially in Eastern Ghouta, in addition to supporting those affected in Ghouta with a number of trees as well as fruitful and forestry plants.

Ziadeh indicated that planting campaigns will take place annually to restore fruitful and forest trees in cooperation with all concerned parties, organizations and popular events, stressing that the campaigns include providing guidance and technical support requirements to farmers, in addition to the siblings.

For his part, the head of the Chamber of Agriculture of Damascus and its countryside Muhammad Jinan explained that afforestation operations continue until the end of the planting season, and include planting about 10,000 apricot plants in 27 villages in Eastern Ghouta. He stressed the need to strengthen environmental concepts and encourage people to plant trees in areas that have been subjected to vandalism.

Member of the Executive Office in the Damascus Countryside Governorate Alaa Al-Sheikh, explained the importance of the initiative, which came within the program to support and empower the relatives and families of the martyrs and the wounded, by providing more facilities to this segment and helping them face the challenges, indicating the importance of afforestation campaigns in promoting environmental concepts and the culture of volunteer work in society through encouraging people to plant trees in areas that have been burned and vandalized.

A number of villagers participating in the campaign stressed the importance of the campaign in replanting lands ravaged by terrorism and revitalizing them again with fruit trees, after the area was subjected to sabotage by terrorist groups.

NR