Under the “Towards Lebanon’s First Natural Park” project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and as part of the Homat al Hima and Droub el Hima programmes, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) celebrated the graduation of 30 community members who successfully completed a specialized training programme in Nature Guiding Skills and First Aid.
The graduates represent several communities across the Upper Beirut River Valley, including Ras el Matn, Hammana, Abadieh, Qobeih, Hlalieh, and Rweiset el Ballout. Over the course of five intensive training sessions, participants strengthened their knowledge of nature interpretation, visitor engagement, environmental stewardship, trail safety, and emergency first response, equipping them to become ambassadors for sustainable ecotourism and community-led conservation.
The graduation ceremony was held in Aitat in the presence of the President of the Union of Municipalities, Mayor Rober Syoufi, the Mayor of Aitat, Imad Abi Saeb, Fadi Ghanem, President of Ghadi Association and Coordinator of the IUCN Members’ Network in Lebanon, Eng. Malek Ghandour, President of the Lebanese Environment Forum and member of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, and SPNL Director General Assad Serhal, alongside community representatives and project partners.
During the ceremony, graduates received certificates recognizing their successful completion of the programme and their commitment to protecting Lebanon’s natural heritage while supporting responsible rural tourism.
Speaking at the event, Assad Serhal emphasized that investing in local people is at the heart of the Hima approach. “Protected landscapes thrive when local communities become their guardians. These new nature guides will not only introduce visitors to the beauty of our landscapes but will also help preserve biodiversity, strengthen local livelihoods, and promote the vision of Lebanon’s first Natural Park.”
The event was organized in partnership with the Aitat Women’s Association, which showcased a variety of locally produced traditional foods (mouneh) and handcrafted products. The exhibition highlighted the important role of women entrepreneurs in preserving local heritage, generating income, and supporting sustainable rural development, while providing visitors with an opportunity to discover authentic products from the region.
The graduation marks another milestone in SPNL’s efforts to establish Lebanon’s first Natural Park through a community-based conservation model that combines biodiversity protection, sustainable tourism, local economic development, and active citizen participation.
Through the Homat al Hima and Droub el Hima programmes, SPNL continues to empower communities as the primary custodians of their natural and cultural heritage, ensuring that conservation creates lasting environmental, social, and economic benefits for present and future generations.
