In an atmosphere filled with enthusiasm and community engagement, Al-Abadiyah Club, in collaboration with the “Doroub Al-Hima” project by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL)—part of the EU-funded Bioconnect project—organized an environmental hike on Sunday, April 20, 2025. The event, which drew over 250 participants, marked the official declaration of Al-Abadiyah as a Hima area within the National Hima Network.
The day was marked by a variety of activities, including guided nature walks, biodiversity awareness sessions, and cultural and artistic segments that highlighted the town’s heritage. Participants enjoyed the opportunity to explore and interact with the beauty of the local natural environment in a lively, eco-conscious setting.
The hikers began at Abu Azeddine Square, passed through the Hadidiya area, and reached Al-Jawzat, following an 8-kilometer trail that took about three hours to complete through Al-Abadiyah’s stunning landscape. The event concluded at the Al-Abadiyah Club playground on Tallet Al-Marj, where attendees enjoyed recreational and climbing activities in partnership with Mike Sport.
This environmental event celebrates the municipal decision to designate Al-Abadiyah as a Hima area, in cooperation with SPNL, as part of broader efforts to promote community-based natural site management and reinforce the Hima concept for the benefit of people and nature. This designation reflects the local community’s commitment to biodiversity protection and the promotion of sustainable ecotourism.
Hamad Mlaeb, Director of the Doroub Al-Hima project, stated: “The Al-Abadiyah Hima is a valuable addition to Lebanon’s Hima network, and today’s event affirms the importance of engaging the community in preserving and promoting natural resources.”
The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon calls on all Lebanese regions to draw inspiration from Al-Abadiyah’s experience and join the Hima network as a community-driven approach to strengthen the bond between people and nature and confront environmental challenges.
Meanwhile, SPNL continues its efforts—alongside the Union of Municipalities of Upper Metn and local municipalities—to issue a governmental decree for establishing a nature park in Upper Metn – Beirut River Valley, based on Law 130/2019 related to nature reserves. In February 2024, a cooperation protocol was signed by the municipalities to launch the project, followed by the issuance of a local charter outlining the guiding principles for protecting the Beirut River banks, promoting ecotourism, and preserving the area’s environmental and cultural heritage.
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