The programme has achieved the following projects with their priority actions:
Rangeland rehabilitation & combating desertification
Set-up of remote sensing and GIS facilities at ACSAD
Measures for combating desertification implemented in Bishri Mountain
Development of Conservation agriculture (CA) in Dry Lands in Syria and Lebanon.
Improving the income and livelihood of local farmers
Development of sustainable land management
Decrease the effects of drought periods and climate change
Transfer the gained experiences to the farmers in different Arab States
Increase water use efficiency and decrease soil water erosion
Community based Water Harvesting & Rangeland Rehabilitation in Mafraq Area in Jordan.
The project followed a community-based approach. It adopted water harvesting techniques as a tool in rangeland rehabilitation, animal production and management of resources to assure the sustainability of the implemented measures in the harsh environment of the Jordanian Badia.
The project aimed at spreading the use of water harvesting structures as a sustainable and renewable water resource to maintain the land productivity and to help in combating desertification.
Vegetation Cover Rehabilitation Component
The project targeted the improvement of the vegetation cover in the selected area to reduce the runoff and improve rangeland grazing purpose.
Artificial re-vegetation is used as the last remedy to rehabilitate the severely degraded rangelands. A surface area of 125 ha was selected to demonstrate the different re-vegetation techniques.
Livestock Component:
· Early Weaning
· Fattening
· Animal health
Development of Conservation Agriculture in Dry Lands
CA is a holistic approach trying to imitate the behavior of natural soil, meanwhile helping the farmer to improve their overall efficiency. In spite of the advantages of this type of agriculture, CA is not widespread enough in the Arab countries due the lack of information, education and awareness and motivation
The project promotes CA and its implementation in the Arab states. The implementation is carried out on farm and in the station in Syria and in Lebanon jointly with the Syrian extension, American University of Beirut [AUB], Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute [LARI] and approximate 30 farmers.