The Syrian steppe occupies an area of about ١٠ millions hectares
representing ٥٥٪ of the country. Due to the relatively high rainfall averages the
steppe is known as one of the best grazing areas in the Arab World. This
picture however has been ch
anged in the recent decades due to the expansion of
rainfed barley cultivation and consequent destruction of the natural shrubby
cover by tillage.
Other reasons leading to land degradation is the steppe overgrazing and
shrub cutting for fuel . High soil erodibility is caused by the week structure and
light texture of the soils of the steppe. As a result wind erosion became a
prevailing process in the steppe. This phenomenon was remarkably accelerated
during the last decade.
Dust, dust storm, sand accumulation on roads, railroads, villages houses,
formation of sand sheets with different thickness and sand hummocks around
shrubs were the main environmental features consequences.
