ACSAD 's 2nd training course on the use of Remote Sensing techniques and GIS in Monitoring Combating Desetrification
Syria, Economics, 11/2/2000

The second training course on the use of remote sensing techniques and GIS in Monitoring and combating desertification was held in the Arab center for the studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands " ACSAD" 's headquarters in Damascus on October 9 - 31, 2000.

It is sponsored by the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), which is an independent financial institution funded by the governments of member states of the Arab League stated. This fund was created in 1973 with the aim of strengthening economic, financial and technical cooperation between Arab and African countries through assisting in financing economic development in non Arab African states and stimulating the contribution of Arab capitals to Africa 's development.

The course aims at training twenty participants from African countries on the sue of remote sensing and GIS techniques for studying, monitoring and combating land degradation ( Types and causes) in Africa.

This course, however, followed a three - fold schemes. First, a theoretical approach with the definition of desertification concept and its causes in the world and especially in Africa presented by experts and well known professors at universities. A summary on the International Convention for Combating Desertification was presented as well as the principles of remote sensing and GIS including methods of using satellite photos in studying lands and vegetative covers in view to determine degradation zones and desertification.

The second schemes dealt with the practical training to provide the trainees with methods used in any project designed to monitor the land degradation and desertification processes ( Remote sensing and GIS).

The Third schemes was a scientific field trip covered several project area related to the subject of the Training Course in Syria and typical sites suffering from land degradation process. The trainees visited the following pilot projects" station of April 7 for salt soil treatment; project of al-Kassra for sand dune fixation; the project on al-Bishri mountain rehabilitation and the project on the exploitation of al-Ghab plain.

In a statement to Arabic News, Kloethi Collett Gumbo, a mapping and GIS applications officer at the forestry commission in Zimbabwe said remote sensing and GIA become increasingly suitable tools for environmental monitoring and management. He said that this is due to the fact that remote sensing and GIS permit handling of huge sources of data which makes it possible to monitor the areas without actually visiting them in terms of cost and time, " So I find this course very beneficial in that it addressed these two technologies. He continued that it is important that people from different countries in Africa were brought together to learn and share experiences and developments in the two technologies".

He said " I find the course important because it broadened my view of GIS applications that are taking place here in Syria as well as in the other African countries, adding that from experience, what I have realized the principles are the same of the applications are the same all over. And therefore we can learn from each other because some have more advanced applications, so you are be able to learn from others and facilitate the process of exchanging information.

On his assessment on the content of the course, he said " I am please with the content of the course as it gave a background on the two technologies and also a sample of practical applications which have been carried out in Syria.

He added that this event is important as it gives an overview of GIS and remote sensing application which will enable the different participants to also apply in their countries.

N his impressions about Syria, he said: " I found Syrian wonderful, especially the people. They are friendly and always ready to help. I was actually surprised how much life the people have put in the desert, as I drove around Damascus towards Maloula".

However, ACSAD 's special efforts are attached to combat desertification at Bishri Mountain project.

Since desertification is a widespread and severe threat in all Arab countries, it becomes vital to find methodologies for monitoring and modeling landscape change. In this context, a project for monitoring and combating desertification in the Syrian steppe was launched by ACSAD in 1993 jointly with the Syrian ministry of Agriculture, the general organization of remote sensing and the Syrian general federation of peasants.

The Bishri Mountain ( Eastern Syria) was selected as a pilot area due to its exceptional fragile ecological system. The purpose was to evaluate the possibilities and limitations of the use of remote sensing and geographic information systems techniques to detect and quantify the desertification processes to assist the local authorities in managing the steppe natural resources .

This project has achieved satisfactory results and has involved many Arab countries through the organization of training courses, workshops and field visits with emphasis on the applicability of modern techniques such as remote sensing and GIS, also the results of this project are now applied in a pilot area in Jordan Steppe.

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