What July’s Syria fires reveal about the country’s forests

Syria fires destroy agricultural and forest land in July 2025

The Arab Reform Initiative reported that Syria lost 15,000 hectares of agricultural and forestry land in July 2025.

The Ministry of Agriculture said this included 2,194.7 hectares of agricultural land and 12,805.3 hectares of forest, equivalent to 2.42% of the country’s forest cover.

Professor of environment and forest protection at Latakia University, Dr Mahmoud Ali, said preventive measures taken by the Ministry of Agriculture were “less than modest” due to inadequate planning and limited resources in the Forest Directorate.

He cited the 2024 forestry and development plan for Latakia governorate, which targets 1,000 hectares despite records showing more than 60,000 hectares of forest in the area.

Ali said: “We need a sixty-year cycle, which is completely unacceptable, because fires wait for no one.”

Causes of frequent fires

According to Ministry of Agriculture data obtained by the Arab Reform Initiative, forests and woodlands make up 2.7% of Syria’s total area.

Global Forest Watch reported that between 2011 and 2023, the country lost 28% of its tree cover, equal to 29,500 hectares.

An agricultural engineer formerly with the Forestry Directorate, who asked to remain anonymous, said the 2025 summer season was one of the driest in over 60 years.

The source said some fire sites were near military areas that forestry personnel could not access, which left forest roads, fire lines and dams for firefighting in disrepair, and dangerous materials unremoved.

The engineer added that Syria was unprepared for the current fire season.

Expert assessments on environmental and organisational factors

Agriculture and sustainable development expert Dr Wael Saleh al-Matni said rainfall this year was 20–30% of normal levels.

He explained that dryness caused pine trees to secrete highly flammable substances, accelerating the spread of fires.

Al-Matni said the dismantling of the Forest Protection Foundation, reduction of its workforce, and removal of vehicles also affected fire prevention.

Environmental systems engineer Ahmed Ghassoun said delays in first response and lack of early intervention teams with suitable equipment for mountainous terrain contributed to fire spread.

He said there was no risk map to guide team placement, observation points or reservoir locations.

Recommendations for fire prevention

A former forestry engineer told the Arab Reform Initiative that restoring sector funding and adopting early fire management systems used in other countries would improve outcomes.

The engineer said previous prevention relied on observation towers and rapid intervention teams, and that modern systems could help identify high-risk months and areas.

Ghassoun recommended 25–50 metre protection corridors in forests and around villages, restrictions on summer forest entry, fixed water tanks, drone and thermal camera monitoring, strict enforcement of forestry law, and annual hazard maps using geographic information systems.

The Ministry of Agriculture noted that Forestry Law No. 26 of 2023 already allows the ministry to compel custodians to act.

The law sets penalties of 10–20 years’ imprisonment for encroachment, rising to life imprisonment or death if fires cause serious harm.

Reforestation approaches and challenges

Al-Matni said rushing to reforest burned areas could be harmful and that fencing off land to allow natural regeneration was often better.

He noted Syria lacked sufficient seedlings, water and machinery for large-scale reforestation.

Ghassoun said: “Before thinking about reforestation, we have to think about what the forest needs to heal, not what we want to plant. All organizations confirm that immediate reforestation after a fire often fails and may even hinder natural regeneration, especially in Mediterranean forests that have a self-restoring ability, such as pine and oak.”

He added that environmental impact assessments and monitoring were needed before planting, and that pine-only planting campaigns ignored other native species.

The Ministry of Agriculture said it planned to plant 1.4 million forest trees in 2025–2026, compared with pre-2011 annual production of 30 million seedlings.

Role of local communities

Ghassoun suggested training volunteer teams from local communities to help in firefighting and monitoring in exchange for pay, and organising cleaning campaigns for fire paths.

Ali said most Syrian forests are located near or within local communities and that extreme poverty drives residents to collect forest resources.

He said: “The solution lies in involving local people in the management of these forests, in exchange for an acceptable income from forest products… and in return, earning the friendship and assistance of these communities in protecting the forests from all encroachments, reporting fires, and helping to extinguish them if they occur.”

He added that improving agricultural practices in areas near forests would reduce the risk of farm-origin fires.

The Arab Reform Initiative reported that residents, business groups and women’s associations had already assisted in firefighting, logistical support and awareness campaigns.

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

The Syria fires highlight the need for integrated fire prevention planning in areas with limited resources and complex political and environmental conditions.

The accounts from Syrian experts show that prevention measures, rapid intervention capability, and community involvement are key elements in reducing fire impact.

For fire and safety professionals, the case underscores the importance of coordinated planning, infrastructure maintenance, and use of mapping and monitoring technology in wildfire risk management.

It also demonstrates the operational challenges faced when firefighting efforts are hindered by restricted access, poor coordination, and lack of legal enforcement.

Syria fires destroy agricultural and forest land in July 2025: Summary

The Arab Reform Initiative reported that Syria lost 15,000 hectares of agricultural and forest land in July 2025.

The Ministry of Agriculture said 2.42% of national forest cover was destroyed.

Experts cited insufficient forestry plans, limited resources, climate conditions, and restricted access to some fire sites as causes.

Data from Global Forest Watch showed Syria lost 28% of tree cover between 2011 and 2023.

Recommendations included early fire management systems, enforcement of forestry law, hazard mapping, and protection corridors.

Experts said reforestation should be delayed in favour of natural regeneration where possible.

The Ministry of Agriculture planned to plant 1.4 million seedlings in 2025–2026.

Local communities played a role in firefighting and support initiatives during the fires.