Wings and Waves September 2016

For his kindness and devotion and for his endless support to SPNL and Lebanon the Ambassador of Switzerland H.E. Mr. François Barras and SPNL have hosted a ceremony in memory of Dr. Luc Hoffmann on Tues.Oct.4th at the Ambassador of Switzerland residence. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Lebanese NGOs, SPNL team, and the Director General of the MAVA Foundation Mrs. Lynda Mansson.

 By Dr. Ghassan Ramadan Jaradi
In September 1973, I was registered to prepare a PhD of ornithology in Saint Jerome University (Aix-Marseille III University) at the Laboratory of Ecology under the supervision of Professor Jean Giudicelli and under the direction of the ornithologist Jacques Blondel, Maitre de Research at CNRS Montpellier at that time.

CEPF updating of the Ecosystem Profile for the Mediterranean Basin

The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund-CEPF is currently undergoing an update of the “Ecosystem Profile” for the Mediterranean Basin that would be the basis for the grant allocation in the next 5 years.

Bow and Arrow in the Hands of Homat Al Hima of Kherbet Kanafar

A Training was held on bow and arrow in the West Bekaa Country club WBCC by SPNL and “the Center of the Middle East for Sustainable Hunting” in cooperation with “Hunting Magazine” to a group of Homat Al Hima of Kherbet Kanafar.

Lebanon Climate Act Launches the Business Knowledge Platform to tackle Climate Change

Lebanon Climate Act initiative organized today a training session for private companies at the headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Beirut and Mount Lebanon, as part of a series of sessions aiming to deepen the knowledge about the mechanisms to tackle climate change

The Palestine sunbird (Cinnyris osea)

By Fouad Itani

The Palestine sunbird (Cinnyris osea) is a very attractive small passerine bird of the sunbird family measuring only 11cm long, with a wingspan of 15cm, and an average weight of 7g.

The Western Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)

By Fouad Itani

The Western Marsh Harrier is the largest harrier from the Accipitridae family. It measures 53 cm in length, with a wingspan of 132 cm, and an average weight of 600 g.

We are not alone – alien plants & animals invade Europe

As of today, leading European experts will gather for three days of intensive discussion in Luxembourg to assess the spread of alien lifeforms among us.

Fancy a mate? Only if shade grown

Organic yerba mate receives a healthy infusion from Darwin Initiative grants scheme. Guyra Paraguay (BirdLife in Paraguay) and its local partners awarded more than £300,000 to protect Paraguay’s Atlantic Forest through their shade grown yerba mate project.

Buy a stamp, save a migratory bird

This time of the year in many parts of North America, it’s easy to find geese flying south in V-shaped flocks from their summer homes to their winter grounds.

What do birds tell us about the health of our environment?

I’m currently in Halle, Germany, following the works of “BirdNumbers 2016”. If it sounds nerdy, it’s because it is. The conference brings together scientists

Birds in a changing world

Yesterday, I shared my impressions from the first day of the Bird Numbers 2016 conference and some first insights into the health of our continent emerging from the impressive body

It’s autumn, free the Nature Directives!

It’s “back to school” for the European Commission after the summer break and one of the first issues on the table is the conclusion of the Fitness Check of the Birds and Habitats Directives.

Roman Sidonian Glass Flask with Birds and Butterflies

From this point we must go back to the coast and to Phoenicia. There was formerly a town called Crocodilon, and there is still a river of that name