Syria Issues New Directive to Protect Migratory Birds and Regulate Hunting
As the autumn migration season begins, millions of migratory birds have started crossing Syrian airspace. In response, the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment has initiated proactive measures aimed at preserving biodiversity and protecting wildlife across the country.
The ministry has issued an official circular to governors in all Syrian provinces, outlining stringent guidelines for managing hunting activities and ensuring the safety of birds during their migration across Syrian territory. This move is part of ongoing efforts by relevant authorities to curb illegal hunting, which threatens the sustainability of wildlife and the migratory species that utilize Syrian migration routes as a key stopover point on their seasonal journeys.
The circular emphasizes the necessity of intensifying oversight in areas where these birds congregate or pass through. It calls for the active enforcement of laws and regulations governing hunting to prevent the depletion or exhaustion of migratory species. Syria serves as a strategic corridor for migratory birds traveling thousands of kilometers between continents, with the nation’s diverse geography providing essential stopover habitats for these flocks.
The new measures are designed to ensure the security and protection of these birds throughout their stay and transit. The ministry highlighted the critical role of provincial authorities in implementing these policies on the ground, in close coordination with specialized security and environmental agencies.
The instructions mandate that provincial governments enhance regulatory oversight in ecologically sensitive areas. Authorities are tasked with ensuring that hunters strictly adhere to existing laws and regulations, which are intended to prevent irresponsible practices that could disrupt the ecological balance or lead to the hunting of protected species. This initiative underscores the commitment of Syrian state institutions to protecting natural resources and biodiversity, ensuring that wildlife is not subjected to risks stemming from human interference during annual migration periods.
Through this circular, the ministry reinforces the responsibility of all administrative and local entities to implement the issued instructions with precision. This effort reflects the government’s focus on environmental protection as a component of national responsibility, aimed at safeguarding the country’s natural wealth and preserving the natural pathways of migratory birds from the dangers of unregulated, illegal hunting.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
