High in the majestic landscape of Mount Lebanon, Jour El Bawashek stands as a beacon of hope for migrating birds, offering a critical sanctuary for White Storks on their long and perilous journey between Europe and Africa. As these birds traverse thousands of kilometers twice a year, Lebanon’s skies serve as an essential corridor—one of the most important flyways on Earth. However, amid the dangers of habitat loss and illegal poaching, places like Jour El Bawashek provide a much-needed refuge for resting, roosting, and refueling before the next leg of their arduous migration.
Now, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) and its partners, Jour El Bawashek is on the path to becoming Lebanon’s next officially declared Hima—a traditional community-based conservation area dedicated to safeguarding both biodiversity and local livelihoods. This milestone marks a significant victory for conservationists, ecologists, and nature lovers who strive to ensure that Lebanon remains a welcoming passage for migrating birds.
A Critical Stopover for White Storks and Other Migrants
Lebanon lies at the crossroads of the second most significant migratory route on the planet. Every spring and autumn, millions of birds—including White Storks, Steppe Eagles, Honey Buzzards, and Lesser Spotted Eagles—soar over Lebanon’s mountains and valleys, relying on thermals to carry them across the Mediterranean and arid deserts. Jour El Bawashek has become one of the most vital resting sites for these exhausted travelers, providing a mix of open fields, wooded areas, and freshwater sources necessary for survival.
For the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), Jour El Bawashek is a particularly important waypoint. These elegant, long-legged birds with striking black-and-white plumage and red beaks often form large flocks that descend upon the area, seeking temporary refuge before continuing south toward Africa or north toward Europe, depending on the season. The protection of this site means safeguarding one of nature’s most breathtaking migratory spectacles.
SPNL’s Anti-Poaching Unit and the Fight for Safe Flyways
Despite its ecological importance, Lebanon has long struggled with illegal poaching, posing a severe threat to migrating birds. White Storks, in particular, are targeted by poachers, even though they are a protected species. In response, SPNL’s Anti-Poaching Unit (APU), in collaboration with local and international conservation organizations, has intensified its efforts to combat this crisis.
The Anti-Poaching Unit is working closely with the Internal Security Forces of the Ministry of Interior, the Lebanese Army under the Ministry of Defense, as well as forest rangers at the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, federations of municipalities, municipal councils, and municipal police.
The APU’s work includes monitoring key areas like Jour El Bawashek, coordinating with authorities to enforce laws against illegal hunting, and raising awareness among local communities about the importance of preserving migratory birds. In recent years, these efforts have led to significant reductions in poaching incidents and an increase in public support for bird conservation.
Mapping Lebanon’s Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (MBSs)
One of the most groundbreaking initiatives in Lebanon’s bird conservation history is the development of a Migratory Bird Sanctuaries (MBSs) map—a strategic tool that identifies the most crucial resting, roosting, and feeding sites for migrating birds across the country. SPNL and its partners are working diligently to create this map, similar to the Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBBAs) map, to pinpoint the areas that migrating birds are already using for refueling and rest.
By incorporating Jour El Bawashek into this national sanctuary map, SPNL aims to ensure that conservation efforts are data-driven and strategically targeted. This map will not only guide future Hima declarations but also help inform policy decisions, habitat restoration projects, and community engagement strategies to promote sustainable coexistence between humans and wildlife.
The Road to Hima Declaration
Declaring Jour El Bawashek a Hima by the municipal council will be followed by a complex process that include collaboration between conservation organizations, local authorities, and the community. The process includes surveys and studies to document bird populations, habitat conditions, and threats. Working closely with local residents to raise awareness about the importance of conservation and the economic benefits of ecotourism. Implementing visitor-friendly features like bird-watching towers, educational signage, and eco-friendly tourism services.
A Bright Future for Lebanon’s Birds
As the efforts to declare Jour El Bawashek a Hima move forward, Lebanon is once again demonstrating its commitment to conserving migratory birds. With each step toward protection, Lebanon strengthens its role as a guardian of nature, ensuring that future generations can continue to witness the breathtaking spectacle of White Storks and other migratory birds filling the skies.
SPNL’s unwavering dedication, coupled with the invaluable work of the Anti-Poaching Unit and the development of the MBSs map, represents a turning point for Lebanon’s conservation landscape. By safeguarding sites like Jour El Bawashek, Lebanon is not only protecting its natural heritage but also reinforcing its global responsibility as a key player in bird migration conservation.
The skies over Lebanon are alive with movement, and thanks to these efforts, they will remain safe for generations of migrating birds to come.
