Symposium on Combating Desertification, Drought

DAMASCUS, (ST) – Minister of State for Environmental Affairs, Dr. Nazira Sarkis, confirmed that Syria continues its efforts to reduce land degradation, desertification and drought through the establishment of protected areas in the desert and expansion projects in the vegetation and projects to stabilize sand dunes, particularly in areas close to the rails and the national project to convert to modern irrigation.

On the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification,  an awareness symposium was opened recently entitled “we must not leave our future to drought”. The minister pointed out that an early warning system for drought,  a fund to alleviate the effects of drought and natural disasters and the integrated development enterprise in the Syrian desert were established.

“The ministry has completed the National Plan to Combat Desertification and followed the implementation of a draft study on wind drifts in the desert of Deir ez-Zor in cooperation with al -Furat University to study the size of these drifts and develop appropriate solutions,” the minister said.

“Cooperation is needed of all government institutions, people’s organizations and local communities and to take all necessary measures to prevent desertification, pointing out that the Ministry of Environment to coordinate with all concerned bodies to develop appropriate solutions and national projects and programs to combat desertification,” Dr. Sarkis clarified.

The symposium included several lectures dealt with the causes of drought, its aspects and consequences in addition to the efforts being exerted by the General Federation of Peasants to Combat Desertification and Drought.  

The seminar was attended by participants from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Federation of Peasants and environmental NGOs.

Sh. Al Khatib