Evaluating soil management practices in conflict-affected areas
This study will evaluate soil management practices in the conflict-affected northwest of Syria in the absence of governmental institutions, to assess awareness of soil pollution-associated risks amongst the local community, central to which farmers and key decisionmakers. A mixed-methods approach will combine both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, to include a survey, interviews with key informants, focus groups, and site observation, this last to identify sources of pollution. The study data will reveal the levels of awareness amongst stakeholders of the risks associated with soil pollution and smart farming practices being adopted to mitigate those risks, if any. This study follows on from an earlier study by the same team on soil pollution in the area.