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ICARDA News International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas P.O. Box 5466, Aleppo, Syria Phone: (963-21) 2213433, 2213477, 2225112, 2225012 Fax: (963-21) 2213490, 2225105; E-mail: ICARDA@CGIAR.ORG Website: www.icarda.org
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Media
contact: Surendra Varma (s.varma@CGIAR.ORG),
Ravi R. Prasad (r.prasad@cgiar.org)
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Jabbul
Agro-Ecosystem Framework Planning Meeting
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About 40 farmers, 20 scientists and specialists from Syria and ICARDA attended the five-day meeting. Dr Francis Turkelboom, Dr Zuhair Masri, Mr Kasem Al-Ahmed of ICARDA, and a freelance consultant, Ms Sawsan Mehdi, facilitated the meeting. At ICARDA, representatives from concerned ministries, research organizations, development agencies and ICARDA met to develop a common framework for the sustainable development of the Jabbul agro-ecosystem. This project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. A farmer consultation meeting was held near the lake, where representatives from the villages surrounding the lake discussed various issues related to the present threats to the fragile agro-ecosystem, and proposed solutions. Several linkages between natural resources conservation and livelihood development were identified, such as pollution, human health, sheep rearing, rangeland conditions, sustainable fishing practices, and reducing disturbance by outside hunters, for income-generating opportunities for local people, farmers and pastoralists living alongside the lake. The meeting enabled the government stakeholders to hear first-hand the perceptions and expectations of the farming communities inhabiting the region. This was the first event of its kind. During a further meeting at the offices of the Governorate of Aleppo, the stakeholders drew up an outline of a framework, to initiate concrete action for conserving the lake and improving the livelihoods of the poor inhabitants around it. Scientific references and lessons learned from elsewhere will be included in an informative booklet to be produced, with inputs from the technical committee and representatives of the farming community. The purpose is to draw the attention of decision-makers and potential donors to the looming environmental crisis in the Jabbul. It was decided at the meeting to hold a multi-stakeholder workshop with government agencies and the donor community in January 2008. Jabbul Lake, about 40 km southeast of Aleppo, is one of the few remaining large salt-lakes in the Middle East and is a Ramsar site, requiring sound protection and sustainable management. |
About
ICARDA: Established in 1977, ICARDA (www.icarda.org) is one of the 15
international research centers supported by the Consultative Group on
International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). ICARDA serves the entire
developing world for the improvement of barley, lentil, and faba bean;
and dry-area developing countries for the on-farm management of water,
improvement of nutrition and productivity of small ruminants (sheep and
goats), and rehabilitation and management of rangelands. In the Central
and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA) region, ICARDA is responsible for
the improvement of durum and bread wheats, chickpea, pasture and forage
legumes and farming systems; and for the protection and enhancement of
the natural resource base of water, land, and biodiversity.
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
(www.cgiar.org) is a strategic alliance of countries, international and
regional organizations, and private foundations supporting15 international
research centers that mobilizes cutting-edge science to promote sustainable
development by reducing hunger and poverty, improving human nutrition
and health, and protecting the environment.