Much of Syria's natural vegetation has been depleted by farming, livestock grazing, and cutting of trees for firewood and construction. The thick forests that once covered western Syria have been drastically reduced; as a result, soil erosion and desertification are extensive. The salinity of the soil is also a problem, causing a loss of more than $300 million worth of agricultural products per year. Other environmental problems include pollution of coastal waters from oil spills and human wastes and contamination of inland waterways by industrial wastes and sewage.
Only 64% of the people living in rural areas have pure water. The pollution of the nation's water supply also leads to the spread of diseases. The nation's cities produce an average of 1.3 million tons of solid waste per year.
Environmental awareness has been a growing concern in the Arab world. The UN and Middle Eastern environmental organizations have sponsored Arab Environment Day to bring the focus of the nation's attention on environmental problems. The quantity of native wildlife had been so seriously depleted that in 1979 the government banned hunting for five years. In 2001, four of Syria's mammal species and seven of its bird species were endangered. Seven types of plants were also endangered. The Mediterranean monk seal, bald ibis, and African softshell turtle are endangered. The Anatolian leopard, cheetah, Syrian wild ass, Israel painted frog and Persian fallow deer are extinct.