Programme title

Institution/organization

The Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands

Acronym
ACSAD

Country
Syria

Address
ACSAD
PO Box 2440
Damascus
Syria

Tel +963-11-5743039/5743087

Fax +963-11-5743063

E-mail
[email protected]

Institute/organization www
http://www.acsad.org/acsad/

Brief description of institution/organization
The Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) is a regional Center for research and studies pertaining to the development of the arid and semi-arid areas of the Arab World. It was established in Damascus (the capital of the Syrian Arab Republic) in 1971, within the framework of the League of Arab States. ACSAD is governed by the Council of the Arab Ministers of Agriculture.

The Arab States' decision to establish ACSAD was based on the importance of the Arab arid and semi-arid lands vis-à-vis the future of the agricultural development and realization of the objectives of food security in these lands, which cover about 90 percent of the area of the Arab World.

ACSAD research, studies and activities are carried out through its research stations and training centers in Syria, where its headquarters is located and through specialized research stations and training centers in other Arab countries. Through cooperation with Arab and international organizations, ACSAD carries out its activities through six main programmes: water resources, soil science, plant wealth studies, animal health studies, planning and economics and training.