Technical management of burnt citrus and olive trees .. in a working symposium in Lattakia

Fires are among the most severe and dangerous environmental disasters that fruit trees meadows and forest areas might be exposed to .Therefore, due to the severity of the fires that attacked Lattakia Governorate last month, large numbers (103 fires) in total, and environmental and substantial losses; the Agricultural Scientific Research Center (ASR) held a field workshop in this regards. The workshop was held  in coordination with the Directorate of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform in Lattakia (Agricultural Extension Dep.), the Union of Agricultural Engineers in Lattakia, and the Union of Agricultural Development Workers under the title:”Technical management of burnt fields of citrus and olive’s trees;basics of rehabilitating forest sites”.

Dr. Muhammad Salhab, emphasized the significant role of agricultural research to transmit technical and scientific information on how to deal with burnt olive and citrus fields through specialized cadres. In addition, to the importance of studies related to burned forest like: forest area, plant types, percentage of damage, soil type. He also emphasized the importance of joined efforts of the numerous investors to rehabilitate affected properties and lands.

Head of Natural Resources Dep. Lattakia Research Center,Dr. Ammar Abbas, explained that fires are one of the most common factors of vegetation cover degradation in the coast basin; as they cause the removal of large areas of natural vegetation cover, exposing the soil to erosion due to the abundance of rainfall in the coastal region.

Whereas, Engineer Fad iQazenj ,head of the Forestry Research Division – Natural Resources Research Department, referred to the types of forest fires: surface, crown, and ground. He emphasized that an effective system to protect forests from fires should be applied by taking three effective measures: first, preventive measures to prevent fires before happening, second, focused procedures to detect fires, and last fires extinguishing.

Dr. Ahmed Mahmoud stressed that the natural regeneration of forests includes a set of measures that must be taken to restore vegetation cover, including: preventing intervention in burned sites for a period of at least two years in order to bring back to life trees that survived fire, and preventing grazing of all kinds in these areas.

Lama Razouk