The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) successfully hosted Assad Serhal, General Director of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) and one of the region’s most influential conservation leaders, for a Brown Bag Lunch (BBL) on Tuesday, 2 December 2025. Organized in collaboration with the IUCN Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA), the event took place at IUCN Headquarters in Gland and was streamed for online participants via Microsoft Teams.
Serhal’s presentation introduced colleagues to the Hima, an ancient Levantine system of community-based stewardship that SPNL has revived, expanded, and transformed into a global model for community-led conservation.
Reviving the Hima: A Community-Centered Conservation Model
In his talk, Serhal traced the evolution of the Hima—from a centuries-old communal governance mechanism to a contemporary conservation framework grounded in cultural heritage, local guardianship, and collective responsibility.
He showcased SPNL’s leadership in establishing more than 40 active Hima sites across Lebanon, collectively managed with municipalities, shepherds, women’s cooperatives, and youth groups. These Hima sites protect vital ecosystems, migratory birds, landscapes, river systems, and traditional knowledge, while reinforcing the principle that conservation thrives when communities are at the heart of decision-making.
Central to the presentation was SPNL’s theme:
“Hima – Stitching landscapes, connecting communities to nature: A Path to Sustainable Land Management.”
Serhal demonstrated how the Hima serves as a holistic landscape-management approach, integrating biodiversity protection with community well-being and socio-cultural values.
A detailed national map of Hima sites was shared, illustrating the geographic spread of the more than 40 established Himas across Lebanon. The map showcased:
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Towns adopting the Hima model
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Nature reserves adjacent to or connected with Hima areas
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River systems, watersheds, and ecological corridors
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Key landscapes protected through Hima governance
This visual representation underscored SPNL’s vision of “stitching landscapes” — building ecological connectivity while empowering local communities to reclaim their stewardship roles.
Serhal emphasized that the Hima is not merely a conservation designation, but a living governance system, rooted in history and sustained today through inclusive partnerships with shepherds, municipalities, youth, women’s cooperatives, and cultural leaders. The model demonstrates how community leadership can produce lasting environmental, social, and cultural benefits.
The event generated a dynamic exchange on how Hima principles can be integrated into IUCN programmes and applied across diverse landscapes and cultural contexts.
About the Guest: Assad Serhal
Hosted as the keynote guest, Assad Serhal serves as the General Director of SPNL, BirdLife Partner in Lebanon. His distinguished career includes:
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General Director, Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL)
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Co-founder and former manager, Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve
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Chairman, BirdLife Middle East Regional Partnerships
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Three-term Global Councillor, BirdLife International (Middle East Region)
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Honorary Member, BirdLife International
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Honorary Member, IUCN (honored at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2021)
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Recipient, MIDORI Prize for Biodiversity (2018)
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Recipient, Silver Lebanese Order of Merit Medal awarded by the President of Lebanon (2019)
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Global Ambassador, Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club (2021)
Under his leadership, SPNL has positioned the Hima as a globally relevant model for nature-based solutions, cultural landscape protection, and community empowerment.
Strengthening Collaboration for People and Nature
The event solidified cooperation between IUCN, SPNL, BirdLife International, and regional partners. Participants discussed how the Hima model can contribute to IUCN’s work in landscape governance, ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation, and World Heritage conservation.
