中東地區對環境議題的重視一向不及歐美國家，然而這正在轉變中。過去兩年來，多數草根保育運動興起，激發了大眾環境意識，並同時授教、傳遞保育對策給敘利亞的下一代。大馬士革阿哈墟彌中學英文老師沙洛（Zaeda Saholoul）表示，「我們的夢想是敘利亞社會能包容更大規模的保育行動，就像其他高度發展的地區一樣。」
沙洛於2007年成立了「綠敘利亞協會」（Green Syria Association），在敘利亞國內首創課後環境課程。協會的成員為關注國家面臨環境問題以及願意盡力改善問題的學生和家長。
專家表示，敘利亞面臨數種環境問題，其中有森林砍伐、過度放牧、水土流失、沙漠化、水污染及水資源供應匱乏等。在大馬士革服務的科學家卡波特里（Salah al-Deen Kharboutli）表示，「沙漠化的問題特別嚴重，尤其是氣溫升高，土地的侵蝕，乾旱的普遍化」。
敘利亞去年經歷了一場嚴重的乾旱，導致農作物嚴重欠收。綠敘利亞協會和其他志工團體皆試著面對這些挑戰，同時喚醒社會意識到環境問題的挑戰。然而卡波特里表示，單是教育無法挑起解決這些破壞性嚴重的環境問題。他說：「政府必須作出制度，我們需要保護森林和重新安置污染空氣和水源產業，遠離住宅和水源的法律。我們同時需要找尋更有效的廢棄物處理方式。」
敘利亞政府於2002年通過了環境法第50條，建立特別專款以資助國家級的環境計畫。而大馬士革立法人員也同時與聯合國發展總署（UNDP）合作，由發展總署提供政策建議，敘利亞則專注於改善保育的試點項目。
While environmental issues have traditionally received little attention in the Middle East compared with the coverage they get in the United States and western Europe, this could now be changing.
In the past two years, several grassroots conservation movements have sprung up to increase eco-awareness and teach conservation strategies to the next generation of Syrians.
"Our dream is for all of Syrian society to embrace large-scale conservation efforts, like those taking place in more developed parts of the world," said Zaeda Sahloul, an English teacher at the Jawdat al-Hashimi secondary school in Damascus.
Sahloul set up the Green Syria Association in 2007, one of the first voluntary after-school environmental programs in the country. Its members are students and parents who care about the environmental problems facing their country and who want to do what they can to help.
Experts say Syria faces a number of environmental problems including deforestation, overgrazing, soil erosion, desertification, water pollution, as well as inadequate water supplies.
"Desertification, in particular, is a serious concern as temperatures rise, lands continue to erode and draughts become more frequent," said Damascus-based scientific researcher Salah al-Deen Kharboutli. Last year, Syria suffered from a severe drought that seriously endangered the harvest.
The Green Syria Association and other volunteer-based organizations are trying to confront these challenges and raise awareness of them. But education alone will not be enough to end these damaging environmental problems, said Kharboutli.
"The government should set an example," he said. "We need laws that protect natural forests and help relocate air and water polluting industries away from homes and bodies of water. We also need to find better ways to dispose of toxic waste."
In 2002, the government approved Environmental Law No. 50 that established a special fund to contribute toward financing national environmental projects.
Lawmakers in Damascus have also partnered with the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, which provides policy advice and also links Syria with various pilot projects aimed at improving conservation efforts.
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
