Damascus, June 16 (SANA)As part of efforts to combat desertification, Syrian government agencies in cooperation with international organizations are implementing specialized projects and programs, including water harvesting and rehabilitation of degraded lands, to enhance the sustainability of natural resources and mitigate the effects of climate change and drought amid growing environmental challenges in the region.

Water harvesting to support agricultural production

Mohammad Manhal al-Zoubi, director of natural resources research at the General Authority for Scientific Agricultural Research, told SANA that the authority has been developing and implementing water harvesting techniques and runoff spreading dams for years to reduce soil degradation, increase agricultural production and rehabilitate pastures.

Studies and field experiments have proven the effectiveness of these techniques in securing water for crops and improving vegetation cover in arid and semi-arid areas, Zoubi said, adding that research results have been disseminated through research and development projects that have expanded their utilization.

Development projects across several provinces

Zoubi noted that a number of water harvesting projects have been implemented in several provinces, including a research program in cooperation withICARDAin the Salamiyah area ofHamaprovince in 2014, a sustainable natural resources development project with ACSAD in several provinces in 2017, a green belt project in Daraa in 2024, water harvesting projects in Homs and Hama in 2025, and a rainwater harvesting project in Mount Al-Hass in Aleppo province in 2026.

Desertification an environmental and developmental challenge

Akram Balkhi, deputy director of land and water use management atACSAD, said desertification, drought and climate change represent the most significant environmental and developmental challenges in the Arab region, noting that arid lands occupy about 70 percent of the Arab world’s area, with vast areas at risk of degradation and desertification.

Balkhi said the world loses approximately 10 million hectares of land annually, while losses in the Arab region range between 60,000 and 80,000 hectares per year, directly impacting food security,water resourcesand livelihoods.

Land rehabilitation and sand encroachment control

Balkhi said ACSAD has implemented numerous projects aimed at combating desertification and rehabilitating degraded lands, including the rehabilitation of Mount Al-Bishri in the Syrian steppe, the Al-Thulaythawat project in cooperation with UNDP, and a sand dune stabilization project in Al-Harishah and Kabajib inDeir Ezzorprovince that protected about 2,000 hectares.

The organization has also conducted a natural resources survey in the Syrian steppe covering approximately three million hectares and is currently implementing a desertification control project in the Al-Batmiyat area spanning 1,500 hectares.

Strengthening water and food security

Balkhi said these projects have contributed to improving vegetation cover and pastures, protecting agricultural lands and infrastructure from sand encroachment and dust storms, while supporting water andfood securitythrough improved water resource management, promotion of modern irrigation techniques and development of drought-tolerant crop varieties.

The world annually marks June 17 as the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, which this year highlights the importance of rangelands under the theme “Rangelands: Recognize. Respect. Restore.”