Promotion of in situ conservation of wild fruit trees: example of Zizyphus species at Al-Haffeh, Syria

fruit tree expert in the Lattakia region, talked about the wild fruit trees found in this region and their potential use, and gave specific information on Zizyphus sativa (Z. vulgaris or Z. jujuba, also known as 'Al-Anaab'), its agronomic characteristics and its distribution worldwide. This species is mainly found in Central Asia, China, the Caucasian region, and in some countries of West Asia (Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Syria). In Syria, it is only found in the Al Haffeh and Fadre villages.
        Mr Abdel Majid Zakaria, a well-known farmer at Al-Haffeh, talked about his long experience in growing Zizyphus species. He mentioned that before 1967, this species was found only in two villages in Syria -- Al-Rabie and Fadre. Its cultivation had been extended to other regions such as Homs and Aleppo in Syria, and to some regions in Lebanon. Two thousand seedlings/ plantlets were sent each year to these regions. At Al-Haffeh, there are approximately 4000 trees, producing on average, more than 100 tons of fruit. The Zizyphus species begins to yield fruit 3 years after planting, and an old tree (>7 years) can produce more than 100 kg of fruit. Early in the harvest season, this fruit can fetch more than 200 Syrian Liras (SL) per kg; however, the price could drop to 50 SL if the harvest is good, and in case of difficulties in export to Lebanon (this species is the only fruit product originating from Syria that is taxed at the Lebanon border).
        Mr Zakaria claimed that one Zizyphus tree was economically far better than 10-20 apple trees, and that this species was in fact, economically better than all other fruit tree species grown in the region, without necessitating special care. More than 95% of the fruit is used as green fruit, and the remainder dried for medicinal purposes (mainly to treat influenza and cough because of its high vitamin C content). The fruit is exported to Lebanon and countries of the Gulf. Its wood and the honey produced from its flowers are highly appreciated. The farmer presented jam prepared from this fruit for the first time.
        Another farmer talked briefly about the medicinal use of Zizyphus fruit and leaves, and other wild fruit trees. The general discussion brought to light some of the constraints in growing Zizyphus (fluctuations of the sales price due to Lebanese tax regulations, cracking of some fruits, etc. This field day demonstrated ways to promote the conservation of wild relatives of fruit trees and neglected species. Two farmers were selected to collaborate in developing wild fruit tree nurseries, and all the field day participants agreed to initiate a yearly festival for fruit trees in September, with the help of leaders of local communities and the GEF/UNDP Project.

he Al Haffeh project target area in Syria is a region rich in wild fruit trees (pear, pistachio, olive, fig etc.). The diversity and distribution of these wild fruit tree species are endangered by land reclamation efforts to grow field apple, olive, and cherry species, and to build recreational 'summer' villages.
        The GED/UNDP project 'Conservation and sustainable use of dryland agrobiodiversity', in its efforts to conserve in situ the valuable wild fruit tree species, organized a public awareness field day on 18 September 2000 at Rabia village in Al-Haffeh, the largest Zizyphus sp plantation in the region. More than 350 people, including 105 school children, 80 women from the local women's union, 125 farmers, and 25 extension agents from all the project sites within the region, attended the field day, in addition to the community leaders and local extension and research staff. The National Project Manager and the Regional Coordinator explained the project objectives and strategies for the promotion of in situ conservation of agrobiodiversity in general, and the conservation of wild relatives and neglected species in particular.  Dr Fadel Al Qaim, the project