Homat Al Hima – The Way of Life, for Sustainable Development

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon, in collaboration with the municipality of Kherbet Kanafar, celebrated the “World Migratory Bird Day” under the patronage and the presence of Mrs. Claudine Aoun Roukoz, special advisor of the president of the Republic of Lebanon General Michel AOUN, in the West Bekaa Country Club.
The event was in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and active participation of Ministry of Environment , Alshouf Biosphere Reserve , Ammiq Wetlands , and Hima KfarZabad Wetlands.
This awareness-raising event highlighted the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats, involving a wide spectrum of stakeholders related to responsible hunting.
The event is funded by the Embassy of Switzerland, MAVA Foundation, BirdFair and Homat Al Hima International. Among the attendees Swiss Ambassador in Lebanon François Barras, Henri Chedid WBCC Owner , Dr. Manal Nader from University of Balamand, Nizar Hani from Al Shouf Cedar Society, Jeff Gerges from Ministry of Environment, SDC representatives Miss Michelle Jalkh and Dr.Lucos Beck, Dr. Maria Gabriella Trovato, Adonis Khatib from the Middle East Center for Responsible Hunting, Andre Bechara from Great Escape for eco-tourism, representative of BioLand for organic food and farming, UNDP and SDC water projects on the Litani Qaraoun water shed region, Ramzi Saidi SPNL President, Assad Serhal SPNL Director General and Birdlife international global Councillor and Mediterranean Consortium Chairman. Various Responsible Hunting Clubs representatives. Representative of Hima Fekha and Maabour Alabied in Northern Beqaa region, Hima Akora in Jbeil region, Hima Qaraoun , AinZebde , Kheirbet Qanafar in West Beqaa region, and local environmentalists.
Aoun planted two cedar trees the symbol for opening the park gates during this yearly international bird event.
The aim of this national conference titled “Homat Al-Hima ( HH ), The Way of Life, for Sustainable Development” is to highlight role of Homat Al-Hima in the proposed Himas for RHAs with the respected municipalities on municipal lands; in order to put an end to the IKBs, and operate the selected RHAs in the Bekaa region and other regions of Lebanon as models for Responsible Hunting and ecotourism/nature based tourism; hence rehabilitating sites for game and non-game wildlife.
Representatives from Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) organization , Filippo Bamberghi  from Italy , and Axel Hirschfeld from Germany were also present , in addition to HIma School participants from Beqaa schools and orphanage building bird nests , painting and watching birds, Local Bedouin music and dabkeh were celebrated and enjoyed with Hima communities and municipality leaders and mayors from all over Lebanon.

Multi Media Coverage

Speech of WBCC- Mr. Henri Chedid and Speech of SPNL- Mr. Assad Serhal

Speech of SDC- H.E. Mr. Francois Barras

Speech of the Special Advisor to His Excellency General Michel Aoun Mrs. Claudine Aoun Roukoz

Mrs. Claudine Aoun Roukoz planting two cedar trees the symbol for opening the park gates during this yearly international bird event

Local Bedouin music and dabkeh