The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) proudly announces the appointment of its Director General, Mr. Assaad Serhal, and the Director General of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Mr. Fadi Nasser, as Global Councillors of BirdLife International, representing the Middle East region for a four-year term. The appointment was confirmed during BirdLife International’s Regional Conference held in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, bringing together conservation leaders, experts, and partner organizations from across the region.
This appointment represents a significant milestone not only for SPNL and Lebanon, but also for the broader Arab environmental movement. It reflects growing international recognition of the contributions made by conservation organizations from the Middle East and highlights the increasing role of regional expertise in shaping global environmental policies and priorities.
BirdLife International is the world’s largest partnership dedicated to bird conservation and the protection of biodiversity. Established more than a century ago, BirdLife brings together 124 national conservation organizations worldwide and is widely recognized as the global authority on birds and their habitats. Through its unique partnership model, BirdLife works across borders to conserve species, protect critical sites and ecosystems, strengthen community engagement, and influence policies and systems that support nature and sustainable development.
As a member of the BirdLife International Global Council, Assaad Serhal will contribute to the organization’s highest level of governance, helping guide strategic priorities, strengthen international cooperation, and support conservation efforts across the globe. The Global Council plays a central role in overseeing BirdLife’s mission, governance, and long-term vision, ensuring that the Partnership remains effective in addressing the interconnected crises of biodiversity loss, climate change, and ecosystem degradation.
SPNL emphasized that the appointment reflects more than four decades of leadership and innovation in conservation by Assaad Serhal. Throughout his career, Serhal has championed community-based conservation approaches and has become internationally recognized for reviving and modernizing the ancient Hima system, transforming it into a contemporary model for participatory conservation and sustainable natural resource management.
Under his leadership, SPNL has pioneered initiatives that integrate biodiversity conservation with local development, cultural heritage, environmental education, and community empowerment. The Hima approach, promoted by SPNL in Lebanon and beyond, has become an internationally acknowledged model demonstrating how local communities can play a leading role in protecting ecosystems while sustaining livelihoods.
SPNL noted that Serhal’s election to the Global Council is also a recognition of Lebanon’s longstanding contribution to international conservation efforts and of the innovative approaches developed in the region to address environmental challenges. At a time when biodiversity is declining at unprecedented rates and ecosystems are under increasing pressure from climate change, pollution, unsustainable resource use, and habitat loss, the participation of regional leaders in global governance structures is more important than ever.
The Society stressed that meaningful representation of the Middle East within international environmental institutions helps ensure that regional priorities, experiences, and conservation challenges are reflected in global decision-making processes. It also creates new opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and mobilization of support for conservation initiatives throughout the region.
Nature conservation today requires global solidarity and local action. Birds connect continents, ecosystems, and communities, making international cooperation essential for their protection. This appointment strengthens the voice of the Middle East within one of the world’s most influential conservation networks and provides an opportunity to contribute regional perspectives to global environmental solutions.
SPNL further highlighted BirdLife International’s unique role in conservation science, policy advocacy, and grassroots action. The Partnership works through four interconnected pillars, Species, Sites, Society, and Systems, addressing the protection of threatened species, safeguarding critical habitats, empowering communities, and transforming policies and economic systems that affect nature.
The Society reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside BirdLife International and its global network of partners to advance biodiversity conservation, strengthen community stewardship of natural resources, and promote sustainable development pathways that benefit both people and nature.
SPNL expressed confidence that Assaad Serhal’s experience, vision, and commitment to conservation will contribute significantly to the work of the Global Council and help further strengthen BirdLife International’s impact across the Middle East and worldwide.
Assaad Serhal will be formally accredited in September and will participate in his first global meeting with the newly elected Global Councillors and the Council Chair, commencing a four-year term dedicated to advancing BirdLife International’s mission of conserving birds, biodiversity, and the natural systems upon which all life depends.
