Minister of Local Administration and Environment: Syria determined to restore its vegetation cover

Kuwaiti officials confirmed that Syria is determined to restore its vegetation cover and is keen to expand Arab cooperation to protect the environment and combat forest fires.

During his speech at the 37th session of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs in Cairo yesterday, Minister of Local Administration and Environment Mohammed Anjarani outlined the scale of environmental challenges facing Syria, whose impacts extend to the regional sphere. He highlighted the establishment of national guidelines and projects designed to address climate change and the updating of environmental legislation.

In a statement to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the Minister of Local Administration and Environment noted that Syria has regained its role in the Arab League at various levels, including on environmental and recovery issues. He pointed out that Syria’s participation in the current session focused on presenting the environmental needs of Syria and enhancing Arab cooperation to confront shared environmental challenges.

He clarified that he discussed a number of common and regional environmental issues with Arab ministers, both during plenary sessions and bilateral meetings, expressing his hope for greater integration and the establishment of joint projects that would benefit Syria and the Arab region.

Anjarani noted the existence of shared environmental issues with several Arab countries, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. He explained that environmental problems have cross-border repercussions, necessitating the implementation of joint regional projects that transcend the borders of neighboring countries and benefit the peoples of the region.

He stated that the Syrian approach involves forming joint technical teams to study these projects, assess their impacts, and incorporate them into priority lists, while respecting the national priorities of each country.

He revealed that upcoming memoranda of understanding with Jordan and Saudi Arabia will soon enter into force in environmental fields, noting that while environmental challenges in the region share similar natures, each country possesses experiences and strengths that can be leveraged.

Regarding the Syrian experience, Anjarani said that Syria is currently building its environmental system. He emphasized that efforts over the past year and a half have focused on rebuilding this system and restoring Syria’s presence in the international environmental arena. He pointed to the initiation of practical steps and the signing of financing agreements for environmental projects, the effects of which will soon be felt. He anticipated that Syria would be able to present practical results at the next session, making its experiences available for sharing and utilization within the Arab world.