Mrs. Al-Assad receives wonderful welcome from al-Badia Children
Syria, Environment, 12/8/2003

Syria's First Lady Asmaa al-Assad recently visited the Syrian steppe region in Palmyra. She met with Bedouin women and children and was briefed on the life of the al-Badia people.

Mrs. Al-Assad listened heard of the daily activities of Bedouin women from Ark, al-Munbateh and al-Abbaseyah communities which include spinning, baking their own bread and processing dairy products.

Mrs. al-Assad's visit followed the opening ceremony of the al-Talila Reserve Environmental Education center that was held last Thursday. The Center's aim is to maintain the range-lands and reintroduce wildlife to the Syrian Badia.

Mrs. Al-Assad clearly enjoyed her visit to Palmyra and meeting the women and children of al-Talila. She welcomed efforts being made for tangible development, taking into account the necessity for the development process to take place over a period of time.

Mrs. Al-Assad was clearly moved when she was presented with a sketch of al-Talila Reserve drawn by the children, who in turn were overwhelmed by the President wife's warmth and keen interest.

She went on to tour the center's departments and listened to explanations on its objectives. Mrs. Al-Assad was then briefed on the botanical garden which houses several plants native to the Badia. Vast amounts of information are also available in the exhibition hall for students and researchers to develop and improve their skills.

In one of the Bedouin's tents within the area, Mrs. al-Assad listened to music played on Rababah and to Arabic poetry recited by Rababah (musical instrument) player, and viewed a display of Arabic coffee and sweets. She then moved on to a second tent where an exhibition of tools that are still used in the Badia to accomplish everyday tasks including spinning and baking bread are on display. She was briefed on the sulfur water bath and also on the many beneficial use of sulfur water.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior Baath Party officials and governors, the ministers of Tourism, Agriculture and education, Arab ambassadors and heads of UN organizations accredited to Syria.

In her speech, the Italian ambassador expressed her thanks to all those who contributed to the success of the project, the creation of the center and the Reserve, including FAO, whom the ambassador said have done excellent work at the center. She said that Italy has been funding this program since 1996, with a total budget of 4.6 million dollars noting the extraordinary work carried out over these years.

She indicated that the activities had covered many aspects including; reintroducing wildlife and rehabilitating local areas, training local personnel, raising environmental awareness and improving the living standards of local communities.

For his part. FAO's representative in Damascus, Mahmoud al-Taher said that the project is built on four objectives: training and qualification, improving pastures, boosting social guidance and studies and restoring wildlife and biodiversity.

The center also intends to encourage eco- tourism in Talila area, and this benefits the local community and Syria as a whole. Some members of the local community will be employed in the Talila reserve as eco-tourist guides, or in the nature shop. Some will produce traditional products that could be sold to tourists while others will sell traditional food or provide transportation and lodgings. All these activities will bring benefit to the local community and improve their standard of living.

Previous Stories:
  Asmaa al-Assad opens Environmental Education center of Talila Reserve   (12/3/2003)
  Asmaa al-Assad opens Environmental Education center of Talila Reserve   (12/3/2003)
  AOAD session on Forests, pastures held in Damascus   (9/23/2003)
  AOAD session on Forests, pastures held in Damascus   (9/23/2003)
  Syrian lecture on protecting environment from pollution   (6/14/2003)
  Syrian lecture on protecting environment from pollution   (6/14/2003)

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