The Anti-Poaching Unit (APU), in cooperation with the Municipality of Lala and the Hima Center, organized an awareness lecture at the Lala Official High School in West Beqaa, under the title:
“The Role of the Student in Combating Poaching and Protecting Biodiversity.”
This initiative comes within the national efforts aimed at enhancing the awareness of students and youth about the increasing dangers of poaching, and their pivotal role in protecting wildlife and ecosystems in Lebanon.
Around 50 male and female students, including a number of young hunters, participated in the lecture, alongside the teaching staff. The High School Principal, Mr. Ghaleb Jumaa, emphasized the importance of these awareness activities in building a conscious and responsible generation, stressing the necessity of involving students in protecting the environment and preserving biodiversity.
The lecture was presented by a specialized team from the APU, which included:
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Adonis Al Khatib: Head of the Middle East Sustainable Hunting Center (MESHC) and Field Coordinator for Responsible Hunting at SPNL
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Shereen Bou Rafeel: Head of the APU Anti-Poaching Unit and Director of the CABS International Organization’s Office in Lebanon
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Maroun Bou Rafeel: Field Investigator in the Anti-Poaching Unit and CABS Team Member in Lebanon
The session addressed a range of topics, most notably:
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The Laws Regulating Hunting in Lebanon
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Protected and Endangered Species
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The Environmental Impacts of Poaching
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Principles of Responsible Hunting and the Role of Society
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The Role of Students in Awareness and Community Monitoring
During the session, the APU team emphasized that combating poaching requires broad cooperation between official institutions, environmental organizations, and local communities, and that students form a key link in spreading awareness and changing behaviors in the field.
This lecture is part of the illegal hunting combat project implemented by the APU with the support of the Foundation Hans Wilsdorf, and in partnership with BirdLife International, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), MESHC Center, and CABS organization, and in direct coordination and cooperation with the Internal Security Forces, the Information and Investigation Branch, and Lebanese Army Intelligence.
The APU affirms that these activities will continue in a number of schools and towns with the aim of building a strong environmental culture among the new generation and enhancing wildlife protection efforts across various Lebanese regions.
