Forest clearing and burning currently account for between 7 and 30% of annual atmospheric carbon emissions globally. If continued with no control, deforestation would eventually lead to substantial loss in biodiversity and would the already fragile sites and critical watersheds (forests currently account for over 80% of terrestrial biodiversity). Furthermore, forest clearing and deforestation would result in lower soil fertility, higher potential of soil erosion, changing sediment patterns in rivers/seas, and removal of a significant carbon sink.

Forests in West Asia have a history of over-exploitation and mismanagement, which resulted in significant destruction of the natural forest cover of the region. In Syria and Lebanon forests were cleared to construct and operate railways. Now total forest area in the region is estimated at 1.25% of the total land area

Forests in the region are predominantly found in the mountains of Southwest Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, UAE, and Iraq. Being the best rain-fed areas in the region, these areas are extremely important from agricultural hydrological and biological stand points. Recently the move to cash crops, using terracing to prevent soil erosion, combined with increased population and urban development have put greater pressures on the forest areas.

Substantial afforestation and reforestation programmes have been launched to increase forest areas. Forest reserves have been declared in Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Syria. Work on sand dune fixation, green belts, roadside plantations and urban forests have been intensified. For example, Lebanon’s long-term program aims at the afforestation of 200,000 hectares. The rate of afforestation in Syria increased from 159 ha/year during 1953-70 to more than 24,000 ha / year during the 1980s.