ACSAD
The Arab Centre for
the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) was founded in 1968. The Centre
is established in Douma in Syria as a research institution aiming at the promotion
of applied national research studies and regional cooperation. It is one of the
10th Arab Organizations working within the framework of the LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES.
ACSAD operates through 6 Departments
and 4 Experimental Research Stations and divisions for Remote Sensing and Geographical
Information System (GIS), Information Technology and Computer Science. ACSAD has
built-up the basic database on water resources, soils, plants, animals and climate.
ACSAD’s main TARGET GROUPs are poor
local communities living in those rural areas affected by desertification in the
Arab League countries. The target groups addressed are those living in regions in
which concrete pilot measures are implemented.
The Centre has developed varieties
of wheat and barley with specific traits for the region. More than 50 species, suitable
for the rehabilitation of degraded rangelands have been defined and monitored for
evaluation every year.
TheVision
ACSAD vision is to be a regional centre of excellence providing the basic services on best practices in the rehabilitation of degraded area in arid and semi-arid lands and the conservation of land resources and their sustainable management.
The Mission
ACSAD conduct studies required to rehabilitate and conserve fragile and vulnerable ecosystems in arid zones and dry lands. Its activities focus on the appropriate use of natural resources and on the improvement of the living conditions of local communities in rural areas. The centre’s activities target the development of needed strategies for the rehabilitation of degraded areas, conservation of natural resources and their protection; the development of local, national and regional capacities through technology transfer and cooperation and the establishment of an interactive platform for information dissemination and knowledge exchange. |