Lebanon has reached a new milestone in its national environmental journey with the official declaration of Hima Batroun, marking the country’s 41st Hima and establishing one of its most emblematic marine Himas. This landmark decision places the historic coastal city of Batroun at the forefront of community-led marine conservation, reaffirming Lebanon’s commitment to protecting its natural heritage through local stewardship.
With this declaration, Batroun joins the expanding Hima network led by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon, which now encompasses 41 community-based conservation sites across the country. Together, these Himas form a living model of cooperation between municipalities, local communities, civil society, and partners, positioning Lebanon as a regional pioneer in community-based conservation and aligning national efforts with global biodiversity targets, including the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the 30×30 goal.
A Municipal Decision in Defense of the Marine Environment
The establishment of Hima Batroun was formalized through Municipal Decision No. 134/2025, issued on 1 October 2025 by the Batroun Municipal Council. The decision was adopted in accordance with the Lebanese Municipal Law, public accounting legislation, relevant rulings of the Council of State, and in line with the requirements of the public interest and environmental protection.
Under this decision, the Municipality approved the designation of a natural Hima covering Batroun’s coastline and its surrounding marine environment, with a comprehensive framework aimed at safeguarding marine ecosystems while ensuring sustainable and equitable use of resources.
The decision sets out a clear and ambitious vision for the site, including:
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Organizing sustainable uses within the protected marine area.
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Applying an integrated and sustainable management system to preserve the characteristics of the marine ecosystem.
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Protecting Batroun’s natural, archaeological, cultural, and social heritage, and ensuring integration with existing and future marine protected sites.
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Promoting sustainable development, responsible fishing practices, and improved livelihoods for local fishers.
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Encouraging marine eco-tourism and traditional marine and coastal products.
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Strengthening environmental education and awareness to deepen the community’s relationship with the sea.
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Restoring and reviving marine and coastal habitats, including fish nurseries and grazing areas.
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Ensuring enforcement of applicable laws and coordination with relevant public authorities.
To guarantee effective governance, the decision also provides for the establishment of an administrative advisory committee, bringing together the Municipality of Batroun, the Lebanese Environment Forum (LEF), and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL). This committee will oversee planning, management, and resource mobilization for the environmental, administrative, and eco-tourism development of the Hima.
Batroun, A City Shaped by the Sea
Batroun is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a history stretching back to the Phoenician era, when it was known as Botrys. Its identity has always been inseparable from the sea, from the ancient Phoenician seawall built to protect against tidal waves, to its natural harbor formed after the historic earthquake of 551 AD.
Today, Batroun is both a cultural landmark and a major tourist destination, known for its historic souks, churches, coastal landmarks, and vibrant waterfront. Yet, like many Mediterranean coastal cities, it faces growing pressures from urban expansion, tourism, and overexploitation of marine resources. The declaration of Hima Batroun responds directly to these challenges by placing the marine ecosystem at the heart of the city’s future development vision.
The Jewel of the Marine Hima Network
Hima Batroun stands out as a flagship marine Hima, designed to protect coastal habitats, fish stocks, and underwater biodiversity, while ensuring that traditional fishing practices remain viable and sustainable. By promoting responsible fishing, habitat restoration, and marine education, the Hima aims to balance conservation with economic resilience for local communities.
The initiative also opens new opportunities for eco-tourism, positioning Batroun as a destination where visitors can experience the sea not only as a leisure space, but as a living ecosystem rich in history, biodiversity, and cultural meaning.
Part of a National Vision for Nature and People
With the addition of Hima Batroun, Lebanon’s Hima network continues to grow as a national framework for conservation rooted in local governance. Each Hima is tailored to its landscape and community, whether terrestrial, agricultural, forested, or marine, yet all share a common principle, that protecting nature is inseparable from protecting livelihoods, culture, and social cohesion.
Hima Batroun sends a strong message from the Mediterranean coast, that cities, no less than rural communities, have a vital role to play in safeguarding biodiversity and marine resources.
A Commitment to the Future
The declaration of Hima Batroun is more than an environmental designation. It is a long-term commitment to the sea, to the fishers who depend on it, to the city’s rich heritage, and to future generations who deserve a healthy and resilient marine environment.
As Lebanon celebrates its 41st Hima, Batroun shines as the jewel of the marine Hima network, proving once again that community-led conservation remains one of the country’s most powerful tools for protecting nature, strengthening local economies, and building a sustainable future along land and sea alike.
