Government aims to preserve natural resources in Syria Damascus - Arab Today Syria is sparing no effort to take active measures in protecting the environment, with its Ministry of State for Environment Affairs signing various international laws and protocols related to the protection of the environment. The country has accused Western colonialist states of supporting and arming mercenaries who are attacking the economic and environmental capabilities of Syria, as they set fire to tens of oil wells, inflicting harmful effects on the country\'s biodiversity. The Syrian Federation of Agriculture Chambers stressed that 26 kinds of local animals and plants have died out because of the practices of mercenaries of Western countries. A recent study issued by the Ministry of State for Environment Affairs revealed that in 2013 air contained higher rates of sulfur atoms and carbon dioxide which pose threats to the biodiversity and the ecological system of Syria due to the practices of the armed terrorist groups.