Hima Byblos

Hima Byblos is a World Heritage Site due to its historical past. It is visited by millions every year which creates a major threat and stress over the natural and cultural resources. The municipality and community are very much aware of the status and needs support in order to deal responsibly with all elements of the site, therefore Hima Byblos was declared in 2016. Moreover, Byblos community depends on its resources for their livelihood; most of the community work as fishermen and others have shops in the old souk to promote their handcrafts and traditional food products. These activities could be upgraded and sustainably maintained by the SPNL’s Hima concept.

Byblos is now officially SPNL 17th hima for Lebanon , and our 2nd World Heritage Site hima after Hima Anjar. The agreement of the Hima announcement took place in the municipality of Byblos with the presence of SPNL team and Ayoub Bark the municipality vice president.

These are truly delightful news, and a  great success to convince the people of Jbail to join the SPNL Hima system. It is such developments that maintain our belief that there are still some good things coming out of this country.

Byblos protected as a world heritage site, is building on its cultural and historical attributes to devise its plan. The city needs to address several aspects to promote social cohesion, city peacefulness and economic prosperity, to protect its environment and to control chaotic urban development.

SPNL will develop a framework within the Environmental Hima plan to understand environmental limits and responsibilities. The plan will adopt a multi-disciplinary approach that weaves sustainable urban development, ecosystem and resources management, cultural and natural landscape preservation, and human well-being.

The conclusion of the work should lead SPNL to develop a wide array of suggestions that are necessary to protect the environment and cultural landscape of the city. Byblos with its cultural landscape and natural resources needs to change its course of action to achieve a more resilient structure enabling the city to withstand the test of risks and disturbances.

Byblos (Jbail in Arabic) is the Greek name of the Phoenician city of Gubla or Gebal. It is a modern city located 40 km north of Beirut which inherited a long and rich history shaped by many cultures. Today Byblos is a World Heritage Site (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/295). It is inhabited since Neolithic times and is often referred to as the “oldest continuously inhabited city” in the world. It is host to various important archaeological sites, including a very old port.

For several thousand years it was called Gubla and later Gebal, while the term Canaan was applied to the coast in general. In 1200 BC, the Greeks gave it the name Phoenicia, referring to the coastal area. And they called the city Byblos (Papyrus in Greek), because this commercial center was important in the papyrus trade.

Throughout the years, Jbail did not lose its reputation; thousands of people from across the world visit Lebanon yearly, and mark Jbail as their number one destination to experience and explore.

Today, Jbail is a thriving modern city that still retains its historical past.

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