he Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) has officially launched the geospatial map of Hima Anjar, marking a new milestone in its efforts to advance community-based conservation supported by modern geographic and environmental data.
The newly released geospatial map of Hima Anjar offers a powerful visual testament to how science and community stewardship can converge to protect one of Lebanon’s most unique ecological treasures. Spanning 3.2 square kilometers, the map, prepared by SPNL’s GIS and Remote Sensing Division, delineates the boundaries of the Hima Anjar Wetlands, encompassing the Anjar and Chamsine Springs, the sources of the Gozayel River—a vital tributary of the Litani River Basin.
The map, produced by Bilal Alaouiyeh, GIS & Remote Sensing expert at SPNL, the map highlights how the Hima zone, nestled between Anjar, Majdel Anjar, and Barelias, integrates a mosaic of ecosystems: freshwater springs, riparian habitats, agricultural lands, and wetlands that collectively form a vibrant ecological network. These habitats sustain more than 3,000 individual birds representing over 150 species, including both migratory and resident species, as well as amphibians, small mammals, and native flora.
Beyond its scientific value, the Hima Anjar map serves as a tool for empowerment — enabling local authorities, researchers, and residents to visualize the natural assets that define their community. By tracing the Anjar border and marking key water sources, it strengthens local governance and raises awareness of the delicate balance between human livelihoods and ecosystem integrity.
For SPNL, this mapping initiative reinforces the Hima approach — a community-based conservation model that bridges traditional knowledge with modern science. In Anjar, the map is more than a technical document; it is a living guide to the symbiosis between people and nature, and a cornerstone for safeguarding the hydrological and ecological resilience of the Upper Litani Basin.
With every blue line of the Gozayel River and every green contour of protected land, the Hima Anjar map charts not only geography — but a shared vision for sustainable coexistence.
