30 May 2004
In collaboration between the Syrian Environment Association , and the British council and the engineers union- Damascus branch ,Dr. Mohammad Kayyal on May 17 presented a detailed lecture under the title of " evaluation of the environmental protection policies on the sustainable development of Damascus Ghouta .
The event was held in al-Assad library and witnessed a considerable turnout "Evaluation of the environmental protection policies on the sustainable development of Damascus and its Ghouta", was the title of a lecture presented by Mohammad Kayyal, Associate Professor and faculty member at Damascus University.
Dr. Kayyal demonstrated based on the two sustainable development principles; inter-generational and intra-generation equity, that past and current policies adopted by public authorities did not and will not lead to the sustainability of the Damascus Ghouta, which in turn may threaten the future existence of the City of Damascus. The presentation made use of visual aid tools to show how stakeholders` perception of the adopted policies from the sixties of the past century to date have not resulted in the improvement of lives of all segments of society; translated into intra-generational equity not satisfied.
The lecturer went further to analyze the impact of the current government policy on the future sustainability of the Ghouta concluding that immediate action is needed to preserve the Ghouta due to its critical impact on the environmental, social, and cultural aspects of development of the City of Damascus. A brief analysis was undertaken to explore the possibility for a time-shift in actions such as to address the immediate social and economic needs of society; however, the lecturer demonstrated that the carrying capacity of the Ghouta was reached; and that the human capital, represented by illegal housing and unorganized industrial workshops, which is replacing the natural capital of the Ghouta is of little or no comparative value.
Hence, the conclusion that sustainable development will not be achieved neither for Damascus nor its Ghouta; translated into inter-generational equity not satisfied. Finally, the lecturer presented a number of recommendations intended to address the factors which are leading to the deterioration of the Ghouta. The need to adopt the public participation principle and transparency in decision making was highlighted as a pre-requisite to sustainable development.
The importance of putting in place specific strategies to rehabilitate and revive the Damascus Ghouta, which reflect society`s concerns, was also stressed. Finally, the lecturer proposed that decision makers should reconsider the wisdom of the administrative separation of the City of Damascus from its Ghouta; the source of its sustainability.
Worthy mentoning that Dr. Kayyal obtained Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1990; and a diploma in Environmental Management from McGill University in 1993
Joined Damascus University in 1996; Has been involved, as a consultant, with UNEP, UNDP, EU, and various other government organizations; Was awarded Bassel Al Assad prize in Environmental Sciences in 1999; Chevening Scholarship in 2003 Period spent in the University of Manchester, Institute for Development Policy and Management and Studies concentrated on "Assessment of policies, programs and plans for sustainable development".
Tomader Fateh
In collaboration between the Syrian Environment Association , and the British council and the engineers union- Damascus branch ,Dr. Mohammad Kayyal on May 17 presented a detailed lecture under the title of " evaluation of the environmental protection policies on the sustainable development of Damascus Ghouta .
The event was held in al-Assad library and witnessed a considerable turnout "Evaluation of the environmental protection policies on the sustainable development of Damascus and its Ghouta", was the title of a lecture presented by Mohammad Kayyal, Associate Professor and faculty member at Damascus University.
Dr. Kayyal demonstrated based on the two sustainable development principles; inter-generational and intra-generation equity, that past and current policies adopted by public authorities did not and will not lead to the sustainability of the Damascus Ghouta, which in turn may threaten the future existence of the City of Damascus. The presentation made use of visual aid tools to show how stakeholders` perception of the adopted policies from the sixties of the past century to date have not resulted in the improvement of lives of all segments of society; translated into intra-generational equity not satisfied.
The lecturer went further to analyze the impact of the current government policy on the future sustainability of the Ghouta concluding that immediate action is needed to preserve the Ghouta due to its critical impact on the environmental, social, and cultural aspects of development of the City of Damascus. A brief analysis was undertaken to explore the possibility for a time-shift in actions such as to address the immediate social and economic needs of society; however, the lecturer demonstrated that the carrying capacity of the Ghouta was reached; and that the human capital, represented by illegal housing and unorganized industrial workshops, which is replacing the natural capital of the Ghouta is of little or no comparative value.
Hence, the conclusion that sustainable development will not be achieved neither for Damascus nor its Ghouta; translated into inter-generational equity not satisfied. Finally, the lecturer presented a number of recommendations intended to address the factors which are leading to the deterioration of the Ghouta. The need to adopt the public participation principle and transparency in decision making was highlighted as a pre-requisite to sustainable development.
The importance of putting in place specific strategies to rehabilitate and revive the Damascus Ghouta, which reflect society`s concerns, was also stressed. Finally, the lecturer proposed that decision makers should reconsider the wisdom of the administrative separation of the City of Damascus from its Ghouta; the source of its sustainability.
Worthy mentoning that Dr. Kayyal obtained Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1990; and a diploma in Environmental Management from McGill University in 1993
Joined Damascus University in 1996; Has been involved, as a consultant, with UNEP, UNDP, EU, and various other government organizations; Was awarded Bassel Al Assad prize in Environmental Sciences in 1999; Chevening Scholarship in 2003 Period spent in the University of Manchester, Institute for Development Policy and Management and Studies concentrated on "Assessment of policies, programs and plans for sustainable development".
Tomader Fateh
© Syria Times 2004
