Seminar on Combating Desertification

DAMASCUS, (ST) – A seminar entitled “hand in hand to combat desertification” was held here and  discussed the role of traditional practices in agriculture in increasing desertification, land deterioration, the impact of the use of wastewater for irrigation and the role of guidance in agricultural work.

At the opening ceremony held by the Ministry of Environment in cooperation with the General Federation of Peasants (GFP), Deputy Minister of Environment Affairs, eng. Imad Hassoun, confirmed the importance of teamwork to rebalance the environmental systems and focus on raising awareness about the aggravated risks concerning the desertification issue, noting that the government has exerted great efforts to reduce land deterioration and combating desertification .

 “The Ministry of Environment completed the National Plan to combat desertification, which included many of the projects that have been listed in the fifth plan, including integrated development of pastures and livestock, partnership development project in local communities in the Badia, the of project of the traditional water management techniques  and the use of renewable energy,” eng. Hassoun pointed out.
For his part, Head of the Agricultural Affairs Bureau at the GFP, Ali Habib Issa, clarified that the importance of working together to preserve the environment and the need to educate farmers and the people about the problem of desertification by doing initiatives to make people more aware of this vital issue and the need to circulate this experience on the Syrian governorates.

 Sh. Kh.