The Lebanese Environment Forum (LEF) successfully organized a seminar and a traveling exhibition on marine reserves at the Municipality of Al-Aabbassiyah in the Tyre District, South Lebanon. This event is part of a broader initiative to raise awareness, foster community participation, and advocate for the establishment of a Marine Protected Areas Network (MPAs) in Lebanon. The project is implemented by the Lebanese Environment Forum in partnership with the University of Balamand and funded by the European Union.
The seminar was inaugurated by Engineer Malek Ghandour, President of LEF, who welcomed the attendees and emphasized the critical importance of marine reserves in preserving biodiversity and sustaining marine ecosystems. He stressed that supporting marine reserves is both a national responsibility and an ethical obligation. Ghandour highlighted LEF’s ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and expressed optimism about the issuance of a legal framework for the Marine Protected Areas Network, which is currently being drafted in partnership with legal experts. He also commended the role of environmental organizations, stressing the significance of civil society initiatives in addressing environmental gaps and fostering sustainable development.
Objectives of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Network
Ghandour elaborated on the goals of the MPAs Network, highlighting that the project, titled “Conducting an Evidence-Based National Non-State Actors Campaign for a Marine Protected Areas Network in Lebanon”, is implemented by LEF in partnership with the University of Balamand and funded by the European Union. The initiative aims to establish an effective MPAs network to protect Lebanon’s coastal and marine biodiversity through an advocacy campaign driven by science-based evidence.
The key objectives of the project are:
- Strengthening a national non-state actors’ advocacy campaign to establish an MPAs network through the provision of adequate science-based evidence.
- Enhancing the implementation of Lebanon’s official Marine Protected Areas Strategy.
- Advocating for the passage of two draft laws in Parliament:
- Integrated Coastal Zone Management Law
- Fishing Law These laws are crucial for the effective management of MPAs and the long-term protection of Lebanon’s marine ecosystems.
BioConnect Project and the Role of the Hima Model
Assad Serhal, Director General of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), reiterated the importance of Al-Aabbassiyah’s Marine Park and Nature Reserve, celebrating the community’s commitment to conservation. He emphasized SPNL’s ambition, through the BioConnect Project, to establish a Hima model in Al-Aabbassiyah. This approach will not only ensure the protection of natural ecosystems but will also focus on environmental education and the empowerment of women. Serhal underlined the need to balance conservation efforts with community livelihoods.
Serhal highlighted the significance of the BioConnect Project, funded by the European Union, which aims to enhance the management and governance of environmentally significant sites in southern Lebanon and establish new protected areas to preserve natural landscapes and biodiversity on a broader scale. The project’s main objectives include:
- Enhancing ecosystem health to improve social and economic benefits derived from nature.
- Reducing biodiversity pressures by supporting local communities to ensure the sustainability of conservation efforts.
Municipal Commitment to Conservation
Ali Kalash, member of Al-Aabbassiyah’s municipal council, spoke in support of the Marine Protected Areas Network in Lebanon, acknowledging the municipality’s commitment to environmental preservation.
The President of Al-Aabbassiyah Municipality, Ali Ezz Eldein, who also serves as the head of the steering committee of The Abbasiyah Beach Nature Reserve, underscored the significance of this legally designated reserve, which was established in 2020 under Law No. 170. Covering an area of 293.54 hectares, the reserve includes both coastal public land and marine territory. Ezz Eldein announced the municipal council’s decision to establish a Hima in the Pine Woodland of Al-Aabbassiyah, covering 7.5 hectares. This initiative will serve as the town’s primary green space, linking the protected blue coastal area with the terrestrial ecosystem, thereby expanding Lebanon’s protected zones in line with the 30×30 conservation target of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Project Achievements and Advocacy Campaign
Rebecca Bessary, project manager, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the project’s key achievements, challenges, and long-term objectives. She emphasized the ecological, social, and economic benefits of establishing a well-managed Marine Protected Areas Network. A short documentary film showcasing the project’s impact was also screened during the event.
The seminar concluded with an engaging discussion among participants, focusing on enhancing collaboration between environmental organizations and addressing the harmful impacts of coastal degradation. The attendees reaffirmed their support for LEF’s “Don’t Dump in the Sea” campaign, which opposes the dumping of war debris into the Mediterranean for landfilling purposes. Instead, the campaign promotes environmentally responsible waste management practices, including sorting and repurposing materials for use in quarries, road construction, and infrastructure projects.
Recognition and Community Commitment
As a gesture of appreciation, the Lebanese Environment Forum presented a commemorative shield to the Al-Aabbassiyah Municipal Council in recognition of its dedication and proactive role in marine conservation. Additionally, participants signed a petition in support of the Marine Protected Areas Network, demonstrating their commitment to safeguarding Lebanon’s marine and coastal heritage.
The event marked a significant step forward in strengthening Lebanon’s marine conservation efforts, highlighting the power of collaboration between civil society, local authorities, and international partners in achieving sustainable environmental protection.
