OCR Text |
Show "Arbor Day" in Syria vttjx WW W ; Urn iteh, - f ' , ' , , , j ' ' t ! One national holiday every schoolchild in Syria enjoys is "Arbor Day," a December day when schools are closed and the youngsters travel out into the countryside to plant new . trees on barren or eroded soil. For Syrian adults, as well as children, this day is a dramatic reminder of the need to conserve and rebuild the country's forest reserves which have been depleted by the military requirements of two world wars and, "haphazard cutting of trees. In past centuries, Syria's mountains were covered with the rich forests. But this precious source of natural wealth dwindled during critical periods of the country's history. During the First World War no charcoal was available to fuel the trains carrying Turkish troops who occupied the country, so large quantities of timber were used as substitute fuel. The rich forest lands were also diminished by the standard practice of cutting down trees to create pasture land or to turn the cleared areas into agricultural fields. Eventually much of this land became barren and valuable topsoil was swept away. Since achieving independence, the Syrian Government has attempted to compensate for the losses of past years. Authorities . are enforcing a strict policy of guarding the country's one million acres of forest reserves. In Western Syria, the forests are still '. threatened by tobacco planters who cut the green tree branches for their own use. The Government is withholding licenses for 'excessive wood-cutting and increasing the number of forest guards and guard-posts. And in the mid-eastern section, the Govefnment is limiting forest clearings and trying to find other pasture lands for the cattle and goats of the bedouins who inhabit the region. All these measures are accompanied by a nation-vide educational educa-tional campaign which encourages individual citizens to plant trees in all sections cf the country. This campaign, culminating in Arbor Day, is designed to insure a great forest legacy of beauty and wealth for the future generations of Syria. |