The international food security expert, Dr. Fadel ELZUBI, emphasized that environmental risks and climate change—particularly the threat of wildfires to national forests—are increasing. From this perspective, the Ministry of Agriculture’s statement acquires a practical dimension, as it combines the duty of protecting forest wealth with the use of modern technologies and community engagement, all within a long-term vision.
Dr. ELZUBI added that the statement made by Minister Al-Manasir indicates that protection is not merely seasonal measures, but rather a path that requires a solid institutional framework, transparency in performance, and active participation with local communities and the private sector. However, a critical reading of implementation raises fundamental questions: Are the announced preventive measures simply temporary technical solutions, or is there truly an institutional structure capable of protecting forests? Is the problem rooted in the absence of integrated plans, or in weak execution and follow-up of existing plans?
He explained that while the ministry’s measures are necessary, they remain insufficient if confined to paper. They must be accompanied by field action: trained response teams, modern equipment, enhanced communication networks, and clear organizational mechanisms to raise awareness and ensure rapid intervention.
Dr. ELZUBI further noted that reliance on artificial intelligence for early warning and detecting forest violations raises questions about the link between technology and field execution. Are there rapid response mechanisms once an alert is issued? Is the system governed by transparent accountability frameworks that measure its impact, reduce false alarms, and adapt it to serve forest protection rather than hinder institutions? Modern technologies are an important addition, but they are not a substitute for strong governance and institutional capacity that can transform alerts into immediate and effective responses.
He stressed that investment in artificial intelligence should not remain limited to contracts with specialized companies, but must build sustainable local capacities in remote sensing, geographic information systems, and data integration, alongside continuous training programs for affected regions and local communities. There is also a clear need for a framework that ensures sustainable financing for system maintenance and upgrades, as well as legal and regulatory mechanisms to prevent forest violations from being treated as temporary news items extinguished by short-term measures, without addressing structural gaps in oversight and enforcement.
Dr. ELZUBI considered the “10 million trees” initiative a step that raises fundamental questions about the criteria for success. The number of trees alone is not sufficient unless accompanied by continuous evaluation of each planting’s viability in terms of soil, water, biodiversity, and sustainable irrigation sources. The true measure is not planting trees, but their survival rate, growth quality, rooting strength, and adaptation to climate change, in addition to mechanisms for monitoring plant health and potential environmental impacts on natural habitats and wildlife.
On the economic side of forestry, he pointed to the idea of planting carob trees and establishing a processing plant as a promising option for rural communities. However, its implementation requires a clear economic framework that balances profit, environmental sustainability, and ecosystem diversity. The risk lies in turning it into a monoculture project, which could expose communities to economic shocks if prices fluctuate or markets decline, while also neglecting biodiversity and adequate protection for natural habitats.
Dr. ELZUBI emphasized that the question of implementation and governance—how to ensure these measures are effective when there are ongoing complaints about weak enforcement against forest violations—remains critical. Seasonal fire plans without year-round sustainable execution will weaken community trust and leave environmental governance hostage to emergency decisions, insufficient for building an effective protection system.
He noted that strengthening early warning and modern technologies alone is not enough without establishing a sustainable and integrated system involving communities, institutions, security, and judicial bodies to protect forests from continuous erosion and ensure the continuity of forest cover. He explained that the absence of public awareness and community participation is a weakness that cannot be ignored; without citizens’ knowledge of their rights and responsibilities in protecting habitats and forests, modern technologies cannot be translated into real action supported by community involvement and regional cooperation.
Dr. ELZUBI called for clear foundations to strengthen governance and transparency through public monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for forestry projects, and the establishment of a national supervisory authority to institutionalize community participation and ensure program implementation with accountability. He stressed the need to build sustainable operational capacities by training protection teams, upgrading warning networks, linking them to a clear national response plan, and securing flexible institutional financing that enables vital projects closer to field reality, with incentives for performance sustainability.
Finally, he emphasized that water and environmental considerations must be the cornerstone of expanding forest cover, with precise evaluation of water resources, adoption of sustainable irrigation techniques, diversification of seedlings, and careful selection of planting areas away from environmentally sensitive zones.