Syria expands Badia restoration projects to fight desertification
Environmental programs aim to restore rangelands, improve water management and support livestock production
DAMASCUS, Syria (MNTV) – Syria is expanding efforts to restore vegetation and rehabilitate degraded rangelands across the Syrian Badia, as authorities seek to combat desertification and strengthen environmental sustainability.
The General Authority for the Management, Development and Protection of the Badia said new projects are focused on planting drought-resistant species, improving grazing areas and restoring natural ecosystems in the steppe region, which covers more than half of Syria’s territory.
The initiative coincides with the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, which highlights the need for sustainable land management and protection of vulnerable environments.
Officials said the Badia, a major source of natural pasture for livestock, has suffered extensive damage due to climate change, repeated droughts and unsustainable land-use practices. Nearly 75% of the region has been affected to different degrees, according to the authority.
Natural resources officials said around 900,000 drought-tolerant seedlings were produced and planted over the past year, including native forage and shrub species adapted to dry conditions.
Planting campaigns have been carried out near grazing areas and rural communities using water-saving techniques designed to improve rainfall collection and increase plant survival.
The authority is also supporting direct seeding projects using locally collected native plant varieties. Around 3,000 kilograms of adapted seeds are collected annually and distributed for rangeland recovery programs.
In addition, authorities are developing small dams and water-harvesting systems along seasonal waterways to preserve rainfall, reduce erosion and create better conditions for vegetation growth.
A rehabilitation project in the al-Batma area of the Badia is currently focused on improving water storage capacity and restoring damaged grazing lands.
Officials in Damascus countryside said the region’s steppe areas cover around 18,000 square kilometers and include dozens of water wells supporting livestock communities.
Around 20 wells have been restored and equipped with renewable-energy systems, while protected areas continue conservation efforts focused on rangeland recovery and sand-dune stabilization.
Authorities said the al-Batma reserve project, implemented with support from the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands, aims to expand vegetation cover and improve sustainable grazing practices.
The project includes planting trees, creating forage fields and building barriers to improve rainwater retention.
Officials said they plan to plant 210,000 seedlings this year as part of a wider goal to establish 1.5 million seedlings over the next three years.
The restoration campaign is intended to reduce desertification, strengthen livestock production and restore the Badia’s role in supporting Syria’s environmental and economic development.
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