Baladi News – Lattakia (Abdullah Mohammad)
In the absence of authorities managing opposition areas and amid security problems in northern Syria, a lot of residents started excessive tree-cutting to provide firewood for winter due to its high prices in the market, which exceeded 50,000 Syrian pounds per ton.
Abu Ahmad Yamen, a villager working as a woodcutter for 3 years in Idlib countryside, said, "I could not feed my children due to war. Therefore, I resorted to working in wood trade like other residents despite the risks and scarcity of firewood in our area. This year, there are only few trees, and whoever cuts them will be liable to prosecution and fines."
Abu Mohammad Housam, director of Civil Defence Center in Bdama of Idlib western countryside, attributed the forest fires in Idlib and Lattakia country sides to several reasons, mainly the regime non-stop shelling that have caused more than 35 fires during this month in farming lands and forests.
"On the other hand, 30% of fires have unknown reasons. Undoubtedly, the excessive cutting and fires, if continued, will cause an environmental disaster to forests, the main source of providing oxygen and eliminating carbon dioxide.