Range rehabilitation and establishment of a Wildlife Reserve in the Syrian Steppe
Syria, Environment, 5/1/2002

Deliberations of the Tripartite meeting under the title of " Range rehabilitation and establishment of a Wildlife reserve in the Syrian steppe were held on April 29th for representatives from the Syrian ministry of agriculture, FAO and the Italian Government.

In an inaugural speech, the Syrian deputy minister of agriculture Hassan al-Ahmad said that this project is the very fruit of closer co-operation between representatives of the Syrian ministry of Agriculture, FAO and the Italian Government, noting that it is in compliance with the strategy set by the Syrian government to developing the Syrian Badia. An area of abundant plants for grazing and agricultural progress upon the completion of the project.

In a similar speech FAO's resident representative Mahmoud al-Taher noted the importance of rehabilitating wildlife in the Syrian Badia regarding social, production and economic fields. He complimented the efforts made by the Syrian partner to this effect The report on this project covers the period March 2001 to February 2002 of the second phase of the project. Actions taken on the recommendations of the Last TPR meeting in March 2001 are reported.

In a Statement to Arabic News (ArabicNews.com) Mrs. Vincenza Russo of the ministry of foreign affairs development co-operation, Rome said that the floristic and faunistic inventories and the impressive documentation prepared are of prominent scientific and practical significance, the successful reintroduction of gazelles and onyx. The Eco- Museum and the related touristic facilities will attract visitors from far and create jobs for the local people.

He said that as regards the range rehabilitation component, we know that the unusually long and severe drought has prevented the implementation in the field, of the grazing management plans. The early results obtained in the first 2 years of the project and the large amount of data collected in preparatory studies inspires great hopes for a quick implementation in the near future, as soon as the climatic conditions will permit.

She continued that the Italian " Co-operation" also compliments the project staff on the good results obtained in extension, socio- economic monitoring, with participatory approach and for the commitment in carrying out the women development activities.

She indicated that the impressive results obtained until now, in capacity building and training of the national staff is to be considered one of the most significant achievements of the project.

She said that the Italian " co-operation" is highly concerned for the delay in selecting the candidates for advanced training outside Syria. She indicated that FAO, as an implementing agency, and the recipient Government, that the candidates are to be identified among the technicians that have already received specific on the job training. Capability and commitment of the candidates are to be privileged, as the sustainability of the activities started by the project, depend on their professional skill.

The project has two immediate objectives. The first is field tested techniques for rehabilitating rangelands under Badia conditions developed, ready for greater application in other areas of the Syrian Badia and the second is the national counterpart institutions including local community institutions, national project and project target groups are prepared to take over full responsibility for project follow up after completion of the second phase.

Among other things, the project is supporting the initiative of the Intermediate Institute for Badia affairs and desertification to organize a joint awareness day in Palmyra with the aim of increasing awareness about the project objectives and activities as well as the Institute role in al-Badia. The project proposed that awareness day should be extended to Homs the seat of the governorate and that the Directorate of al-Badia should also participate in this activity. An initial meeting was held which outlined the approach to implement this activity and formed a representative committee to detail the steps and inputs required. The meeting also agreed to organize this activity between March 15 and April 10 for one day in Palmyra and 2 days in Homs.

Other additional activities related to wildlife component is undertaken a survey as a shop of Damascus trading in wildlife. Protected and threatened species were identified and the unsuitable conditions in which they were kept were photo- documented and reported to the FAOREP., who reported to the minister of Environmental affairs on this issue.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian Environment Association assumes activities   (2/23/2002)
  A workshop on national bio-diversity strategy in Damascus   (2/23/2002)
  Workshop on national bio-diversity strategy in Damascus   (2/22/2002)

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