Wings and Waves July 2015

 

 

Wings & Waves - SPNL's Newsletter
SPNL and Gold Trophy organized a Partnership ceremony between SPNL and Gold Trophy which was at Bioland Farm Restaurant, Sghar, Batroun, Lebanon on 11 July 2015. The event witnessed also the signing of partnership between Gold Trophy and S.C.Vanatorul and Canisa Kris SRL (Romanian companies in the field of responsible hunting). The event was under the patronage of his excellency Romanian ambassador to Lebanon Victor MIRCEA.

SPNL and Gold Trophy: A Mutual Partnership for the Promotion of Responsible Hunting in Lebanon

The collaboration between Gold Trophy and SPNL will help in creating a platform where all concerned hunting parties will meet including hunting shops, shooting clubs, hunting associations, hunters, hotspots, municipalities, RHAs / HIMAs, etc.

Explore 34 biodiversity hotspots around the world through stunning images. This spotlight exhibition features photographs that celebrate the diverse natural beauty of these areas and their vital importance to human well-being.

The 34 wonders of the world outdoor exhibition in Sghar, Batroun

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon, in collaboration with Gold Trophy launched this exhibition in Bioland Farm Restaurant, Sghar, Batroun, Lebanon, on 11 July 2015. The exhibition features 34 hotspots that explore worldwide biodiversity and has been inaugurated on the very international day for Biological Diversity.

 
As a part of its yearly celebration to support nature and people, and through the generous support of the MAVA Foundation. SPNL , the Municipality of Anjar, and Anjar Environmental Committee , organizes the 2015 Nature Festival , under the title “Be the Change”, highlighting the role of Women and Youth as leaders for a better nature and environment.

Mark your Calender: 8 August 2015 “Be the Change” Nature Festival

The event will be noted by the official opening of the Souk AlHima Anjar women atelier a collaborative project between SPNL, the Municipality of Anjar and the Armenian Relief Cross of Lebanon- Anjar, funded by the European Union and the UN Women Fund For Gender Equality

Date : August 8, 2015

Place : Anjar- Bekaa

SPNL has started collaborating with the Tarshish local authorities and community in its mission to protect the environment by promoting the Hima system. Tarshish is a Lebanese village in Kaza Baabda, The village is located at an elevation of 1400m and is 50 km away from Beirut.

Tarshish claimed as a New Hima

The municipality of Tarshish signed the decision to adopt the new Hima annexed with a map that locate the Hima as following: Marej Issa from the east Kaferselwan from the south, private land from the west, and small river from the north.

The Migratory Soaring Birds project -Lebanon closed its activities on the 30th of June 2015. An internal final small workshop was held on the 25th of June in Beirut, Coral Beach Hotel, to share the main project achievements and to launch the hunting exams software.

MSB final Workshop adopted RHAs concept

Participants agreed that the hunting exams software is the final practical steps which will lead to the full implementation of the Law No. 580 – organizing hunting System in Lebanon- which was issued in 2004, and this will hopefully allow the Ministry of Environment to open the hunting season in Autumn 2015.

Japanese Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Seiichi Otsuka hosted a dinner for the Lebanese NGOs working for nature conservation in Lebanon.
SPNL delegation to the dinner was: SPNL President Ramzi Saidi , Director General Assad Serhal, and Hima Manager Dalia Jawhary.

Japanese Ambassador Host Dinner for Lebanese Environmental NGOs

Japan’s GGP has so far extended more than US$ 13.9 Million to Lebanon since 1996 to finance development projects implemented by NGOs, municipalities, schools and medical institutions.

 
Through the generous  support of the Mava foundation and under the project titled ” Restoring Hima Ecosystem Functions through promoting sustainable community-based water management system”, SPNL  managed to organize two participatory workshops for the establishment of Hima Kfar Zabad committee.

Hima Kfarzabad committee to promote environmental awareness, implement management plan

The committees objectives included promoting ecotourism and environmental awareness, management of hunting and grazing in the Hima, conserving wildlife in the Hima, promoting sustainable agriculture practices around the Hima and promoting sustainable management of water resources,

Through SPNL’s current approach towards involving multi-stakeholders in the management and planning of Hima sites, and as a part of the School with No Walls program, SPNL adopted the Design for Change approach (DFC) for involving kids and youth in the management of their village and its natural resources.

“More Sun Less Pollution”: A “Design for Change “ in Hima Anjar

One of the project that impressed the DFC Jury and audience was the solar heater project “ More Sun Less Pollution “ designed by a 14 years old student in the 9th grade Sbidag Demirijian.

Welcome to life—and death—in the Eastern Mediterranean. This autumn many millions of migratory birds will cross the Mediterranean Sea from Europe to Africa, heading to wintering quarters further south. As you read this, their post-breeding movements will already have started—as will their massacre.

When Doves Die WorldBirdwatch by James Lowen

As for culture, the Eastern Mediterranean has a long tradition of hunting birds—stretching back to the Pharaohs in the case of Egypt. “Birdhunting”, says Assad Serhal (Director General, Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon; SPNL, BirdLife in Lebanon), “is socially accepted in our country”, as it is in others across the region.

BPSSS initiated a social network campaign, aimed to prove that there ARE people who care about Turtle Dove and that the number of those people is much, much HIGHERthan 400 (supposed) Turtle Dove hunters. The results that we have today are surprising, and much better that we expected.

We care about Turtle Dove! Do you?

  Take a self-portrait or a portrait of any other supporter of this action with a banner anda simple message: „I care about Turtle Dove! Do you?“, written in your own language, but also, if possible in English.

Send us your photos via email:sekretar@pticesrbije.rs; or post them to our FaceBook page;https://www.facebook.com/pticesrbije.

This story is about a young man, Khajaq Stanbulian, admirer of nature and it’s welfare, who decided to grow organic fruits for the pleasure of cultivating and for its benefits. This young man began his simple project by working in a small land at the bottom of a mountain at Hima Anjar.

Successful Plantation Story in hima Anjar

A few months ago, SPNL expert visited the municipality of Anjar. He met with Khajaq’s friend, Berje, and they visited the land in question together. There, the expert taught them how to care for everbearing strawberry varieties, and how to optimize the yield through trimming and flower removal.

Through the support of the MAVA Foundation and as a part of the project “Restoring Hima Ecosystems Function through promoting sustainable community-based water management system”

New Policy for Hima Anjar Water Users Association

SPNL succeeded  to develop a water policy for the Anjar Water Users Association (WUA) which insures the sustainable management of water resources and improved management of the Anjar spring.

SPNL participated in the Marinescape Forum that was held in Piraeus – Greece on the 26th and 27th of May 2015. The forum was organized by Mediterranean Institute for Nature and Anthropos (Med-INA) and CIVILSCAPE in Piraeus.

Marinescape Forum in Piraeus : TheMediterranean Sea Landscape on focus

Shalimar Sinno, project coordinator at SPNL, coming from landscape background attended the forum to present the current status of the Lebanese coastal line, in addition to the gaps, challenges, threats, and needs that the coast is facing on social, economic, cultural, natural and political level.

Diclofenac – the Vulture killing drug – is now available on EU market. This drug is known to kill vultures even in very small amounts . Diclofenac is used for veterinary purposes, for example for treating cows and pigs, vultures are at risk when they eat the carcasses.

Diclofenac the Vulture killing drug is now available on EU market BAN IT NOW !

In December last year, the European Medicines Agency confirmed that European vultures are at risk when they eat the carcasses, and has in their scientific opinion concluded that the withdrawal of Diclofenac is the only option that completely removes the risk to vultures.

Together for biodiversity in the Mediterranean Basin Biodiversity Hotspot. This video shows the faces and words of people working together to conserve nature throughout the Mediterranean, including in civil society projects funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF).

Together for Biodiversity CEPF Mediterranean

“These words epitomise the love of nature of all the CEPF partners, working in the diverse countries of the Mediterranean Basin, together.” Pierre Carret, CEPF Grant Director.
Recorded at the CEPF Mediterranean mid-term meeting in Ulcinj, Montenegro, May 2015.

News in Photos

Hima KfarZabad cleaning day

Hima Kfar Zabad local conservation group organized a cleaning day in collaboration with Hima Anjar local conservation group.

 
The collaboration between the two neighboring Himas is a good examples of how local groups can improve the performance and management of the sites.

News in Photos

Armenian needle work in Hima Anjar

These pictures were taken in the meeting that was held with the women group of Anjar who are working on Armenian needle work to raise awareness on globally endangered species through the guidance of SPNL design expert Sara Richani.

 
SPNL has been reviving this traditional approach to match the needs of the present societies for sustainable development. The women empowerment is part of the project entitled “Promoting Hima Women Empowerment for Conservation and Livelihood” funded by UN Women Fund for Gender Equality.

News in Photos

Storks Migrate in Peace in Bekaa Valley – by Maher Ousta

The most important migration corridor is the Bekaa Rift Valley in the east of the country. This is the continuation of the Jordan Rift Valley and its fertile fields and extensive wetlands are used every year as a stopover for millions of migrant birds on passage.

 
Embedded between the Mount Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains the valley is only a few kilometres wide in places.

EID MUBARAK

 

Hope, Love & Laughter;
Warmth, Prosperity & Joy;
A fragrant bouquet filled with life;
You may Enjoy!
A very happy Eid – full of wonderful feasts, jubilation and happiness!

The Great Crested Grebe winters in Lebanon and passes during migration throughout the country. The scientific adviser of SPNL , Dr Ghassan Ramadan Jaradi, photographed this Great Crested Grebe with its chick in Sofia last week. SPNL thought that this species may well symbolize the happiness of Eid El Fitr because of its interesting dancing ritual where pairs raise and shake their heads and approach each other with weed in their bills. This largest grebe of our area is a good swimmer and diver and it contributes to the balance of the ecosystem as it feeds on small fishes, small frogs, crabs, and insects of freshwater. In the 19th century, the Great Crested Grebe became nearly extinct because of the demand on its orange head feathers to decorate clothes and hats. Fortunately, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) reversed the situation through effective conservation measures.

With the Support of MAVA foundation  
SPNL is a member in Mediterranean Consortium for Nature and Culture

 

 

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Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon – SPNL
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