Asmaa al-Assad opens Environmental Education center of Talila Reserve

Syria's First Lady Asmaa al-Assad will mark tomorrow the inauguration of the Environmental Education Center of Talila Reserve in Palmyra. This pilot project is held in the course of to efforts to maintain range-land rehabilitation, and establishment of wildlife in the Syrian Badia. It is the fruit of close cooperation between Syria, the Food and Agriculture organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Italian government.

The project has launched a comprehensive extension education program that touches different target groups including school children, rural and urban visitors, decision makers and visitors of al-Badia, although it is primarily intended for pastoral groups especially sheep and camel herders.

The communication strategy adopted for the execution of this program uses several means and methods for disseminating the awareness messages to different target groups. These methods include face to face communication, Bedouin facilitators, friends of Talila reserve clubs, mass media, especially the radio, mobile exhibitions, and the establishment of the Environmental Center.

The center is located in Talila reserve, about 30 km to the east of Palmyra. It consists of four halls: exhibition, show, children workshop, and the natural shop. The general objective for establishing this center is to raise awareness and make them feel responsible for using their natural resources in a sustainable way.

The center also intends to encourage ecotourism in Talila area. This is seen will be of great benefit to the local community and to Syria as a whole.