3,150 Species of plants from 900 genera catalogued in Syria

Around 3,150 indigenous and adapted species plant from 900 genera exist in Syria   Research shows that around 3,150 indigenous and adapted species plant from 900 genera exist in Syria, making the Syrian flora a subject of interest of cultivation and genetic research due to their good morphological qualities that were maintained despite difficult environmental and climate conditions.
Due to the importance of Syria's flora, Law No. 20 of 2009 on preserving flora was issued to protect local plants, organize their circulation, and protect farmers' right. The General Commission For Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR) also devised a plan for preserving plant life and biodiversity through collecting, cataloguing and studying plants and their genetics.
According to Director General of GCSAR Nayef al-Salti said that a genetic bank was established in 1996 to collect, catalogue, study and preserve the genetic material of Syrian plants, noting that there are 11,272 entries at the bank ranging from agricultural crops to pastoral plants, with 1,500 to 2,000 entries evaluated each year.
Al-Salti pointed out that there are currently around 18 plant reserves across Syria, 4 protection zones, and 3 parks with an overall space of 17,7000 hectares, in addition to pastoral reserves in the Syrian desert with an overall area of 822,000 hectares and 4 nature reserves with an area of 83,000 hectares.
In the 80's of the 20th century, Syria participated in the negotiations organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which resulted in the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources. Syria was one of the first countries to sign the treaty.