CAIRO — The international conference dubbed “The role of universities in raising environmental awareness towards transforming earth into a healthy environment” kicked off Sunday under the organization of the League of Islamic Universities and the Arab Federation for Sustainable Development and the Environment.

Secretary General of the League of Islamic Universities Dr. Osama Al-Abed, during his speech, stressed that the desertification is a global problem that many countries suffer from, and that the rate of the lands that face desertification is increasing growing, noting that most areas affected or threatened by desertification are in the Arab world.

He pointed out that universities, scientific institutes, research centers and civil societies shoulder the responsibility of stopping desertification and limiting this phenomenon, in a bid to contribute to organizing agriculture, irrigation and planting trees.

He noted that considering laws relevant to protecting the environment and their implementation and development contribute to participating in drawing policies and reaching proper plans to maintain and protect the environment. — SPA