The Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs (MSEA) is acting for implementation provisions of the International Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) after having been ratified in 1997; the National Action Plan to Combat Desertification (NAP) comes as one of the basic objectives for execution the convention.
Many efforts were implemented and others are still under implementation by the Syrian government to limit the Desertification phenomenon before and after signing the Convention through the concerned ministries and institutions such as the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Irrigation.
By support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs in coordination with all competent authorities, ministries, institutions, popular organizations, occupational syndicates, public and private sectors; has prepared the NAP.
While the Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs is presenting this plan, it hopes to transfer its projects to executive programs to achieve the principle of participation between all society categories and to reserve our resources through sustainable development.
The project administration of National Action Plan Programme to Combat Desertification presents its acknowledgement for every person contributed in this national effort (National Action Plan to Combat Desertification), where its priority need has become essential especially when we talk about the sustainable development plans, particularly we have to remember that our country is subject to arid and semi-arid climate , our water resources need rationalization, our country’s arable soil is deteriorating day by day in front of huge urban invasion, our rangelands (Al-Badiah) as a result of those frequent drought waves become of less plant cover which was a basic source to develop our animal wealth, and our coastal area is being drifted due to plant cover deterioration.
In facing those pressures on the natural resources specially, the soil and due to the importance of its protection, it was urgent to prepare the NAP which honored by approval of the national unanimity through all concerned bodies in Combating Desertification, and ratification by the Higher Council of Environment Safety, as it was in harmony with the commitment of Syria through its certification on the UNCCD.
As the preparation of the National Action Plan to Combat Desertification is of an urgent need, but the most importance is the implementation of proposals which come from the ministries and concerned institutions by means of executive action programs that would limit the land degradation, soil erosion, and Combat desertification.
For more details: National Action Plan to Combat Desertification In Syria Download