Damascus-Sana
The Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform indicated that the number of forest and agricultural fires in the governorates of Lattakia, Tartous, Homs and Hama for the year 2020 reached 2,480 fires that the ministry worked to extinguish with the efforts of the forest protection centers located in these governorates and with the support of the forest protection centers in other governorates in addition to the fire brigades, civil defense and members of the Arab army Syrian.
The director of forests in the ministry, Dr. Hassan Faris, confirmed in a statement to SANA that the Directorate of Forestry and its departments in the directorates of agriculture in the governorates are working according to their plans to take all measures to increase the areas planted with forest trees and protect them from infringements. It is also working to apply preventive and precautionary measures to limit infringements and the occurrence of fires according to capabilities. Available in coordination with all concerned and relevant authorities.
Fares indicated that the fires that occurred during the current year were distributed between 2115 fires in agricultural lands and 365 fires in forested areas as a result of weather conditions or human activities and neglect, and among these fires are the fires that Syria witnessed during the period from 8 to 12 October 2020. The Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of a group of 39 arsonists who have deliberately set fires in the Lattakia, Tartous and Homs governorates.
He pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture also announced the organization of 48 forestry controls for forest fires resulting from an agricultural fire.
Fares explained that the rest of the fires occurred in the destinations of ecotourism and those visiting forest sites with the intention of recreation and in hunting areas and as a result of throwing cigarette butts on public roads, including unknown causes, pointing out that a large number of agricultural fires were extinguished by members of the forest protection centers before their extension to the neighboring forest sites Which had a major role in reducing the number of forest fires.
Ghossoub Abboud