The Syrian Future Movement joins the international community in celebrating the International Day for Biological Diversity, observed on Friday, May 22, 2026. This international occasion, launched by the United Nations, aims to solidify the values of nature conservation and the protection of endangered ecosystems as a fundamental pillar for the continuation of human life.
Our participation in this day embodies our deep belief that preserving and protecting nature is the essence of civilization and true progress.
We also affirm that protecting ecosystems is a fundamental pillar of national security and sustainable economic recovery in the future Syria.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that successive crises and years of prolonged conflict have exhausted our country’s ecosystem. Recent environmental reports for 2025/2026 indicate a sharp decline in vegetation cover and an abnormal change in rainfall patterns in agriculturally significant areas such as northeastern Syria (Hasakah). We believe that this deterioration not only threatens Syria’s unique plant species, which number over 3,077, but also profoundly impacts our food security and the stability of our local communities.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the current transitional phase the country is undergoing presents a historic opportunity to reformulate national policies on advanced foundations. Building a new Syria requires moving away from temporary, piecemeal solutions and adopting a “national green strategy” that aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16).
The Syrian Future Movement believes that biodiversity in Syria represents a rich geographical and cultural identity. The loss of important environmental symbols, such as the northern bald ibis in the Palmyra desert, or the degradation of biodiversity habitats in coastal forests and steppes, reflects the magnitude of the environmental gap that the local and international communities must bridge immediately through joint coordination.
For a safe transition to environmental protection during this phase, the Syrian Future Movement recommends the following:
- Establishing an independent national body for the protection of genetic resources, responsible for inventorying, documenting, and valuing local plant and animal species, and creating a national gene bank to preserve endangered species.
- Integrating sustainability standards into reconstruction plans, imposing strict environmental conditions on structural recovery projects, relying on clean energy, and combating pollution caused by war remnants.
- A strategic partnership with international organizations, through activating diplomatic channels to secure international support and expertise from the Global Environment Facility and UN programs for building national and institutional capacities.
- Stimulating environmental agricultural innovation, supporting farmers and livestock breeders to adopt agricultural practices adapted to current climate change, and implementing advanced digital programs for inventorying and protecting livestock and vegetation.
The Syrian Future Movement concludes its statement by emphasizing that belonging to the civilized global community begins with preserving our lands and natural resources. We believe that commitment to biodiversity is a commitment to the right of future generations to a safe and stable life, and to building a modern Syrian state based on a balance between economic growth and nature conservation.
