An outcome of close follow-up and cooperation between Government Agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Damascus 21/ 11/2013
The sterling efforts made and productive cooperation between the Syrian Society for the Conservation of Wildlife (SSCW) and the national governmental bodies were proved fruitful. These efforts emerged from the importance of achieving sustainable management of hunting and wildlife investment and protection through the development of current legislation and bylaws. This was materialized through efforts to support the capacity building of technical staff that are capable of implementing legislation and executive instructions through a series of workshops implemented in cooperation with the Ministries of Environment (MSEA) and Agriculture (MAAR) (September 2012, May 19, 2013, November 10, 2013, November 14, 2013) with the participation of all stakeholders. Among the most important outcomes of these workshops were promoting wildlife conservation and explaining the negative impact of hunting and other activities such as international trade and trafficking. Furthermore, these workshops have succeeded as well in presenting mechanisms to achieve an updated and modern legislation that takes into account international standards in a logical and applicable way, as well as the importance of government and civil cooperation in reaching these goals.
The Society is proud to see the beginning of such outcome of cooperation efforts between government and NGOs through the issuance of Minister of State for Environmental Affairs Dr. Nazira Sarkis a Ministerial Resolution No. 1307 / s / f – date 11/20/2013. This decision prohibits the export of animals and plants listed within the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Syria signed to join this agreement in 2002 and entered into force in 2003.
It is undoubtedly, that this decision is a supportive step to protect the diverse wildlife in Syria by limiting the gathering or harvesting of these creatures and their products and such related international trade activities.