By Assad Serhal
There are people who work for conservation, and there are people who become conservation itself. Mona Khalil was one of those rare individuals whose life, spirit, and daily existence became inseparable from the cause she dedicated herself to.
I knew Mona personally for many years. Throughout our shared conservation journey, I stayed numerous times at her well-known orange house together with colleagues from the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL). Those visits were never merely social gatherings; they were working sessions filled with discussions, planning, debates, hopes, and dreams for the future of Lebanon’s coastline and its wildlife.
Together, alongside the municipalities of Mansouri and Qoleileh, local communities, youth groups, volunteers, and dedicated environmental advocates, we worked to establish and strengthen the Hima approach along one of the most ecologically important coastal stretches in Lebanon. This seven-kilometer expanse of sandy and rocky shoreline hosts more than fifty-eight endangered sea turtle nests annually, making it one of the country’s most significant nesting habitats.
The success of Hima Qoleileh–Mansouri was not built by institutions alone. It was built by people. And among those people, Mona stood as one of the strongest pillars.
She was a true Hamiat Al Hima—a protector of the Hima in every sense of the word.
Working under some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable in Southern Lebanon, Mona never surrendered to challenges. Whether facing political instability, financial constraints, environmental threats, or the hardships of everyday life, she remained unwavering in her commitment. She never gave up, never hesitated, and never compromised when it came to protecting sea turtles and preserving their fragile habitat.
She fought for conservation not as a profession but as a calling.
Mona was not only passionate; she was fearless. She stood on the front lines of environmental protection year after year, often making personal sacrifices that few people ever saw. Her determination inspired everyone around her. She taught generations of volunteers, guided young conservationists, and mobilized local communities to take ownership of protecting their natural heritage.
I still smile when I remember how she used to call me “Abu Al Hima,” along with several other colorful nicknames that are best left unpublished. Those memories take me back to the early days when we were working with Mayor Jamal Shibli and Hassan Khalil to secure local support for the Hima approach and turn a vision into reality. Mona was there from the beginning—questioning, challenging, contributing, and pushing all of us to do better.
Anyone who knew Mona understood one thing very quickly: she was not the easiest person to win an argument with.
Once she believed in something, she defended it with all her strength. Changing her mind was nearly impossible, particularly when the discussion involved sea turtles. They were not simply a conservation priority for her; they were family. She cared for every nest, every hatchling, every successful release, and every challenge threatening their survival. To her, they were her babies.
Over time, Mona earned the respect of SPNL and my own respect not through words, but through action. She proved her commitment repeatedly, year after year, through hard work, persistence, and unwavering dedication to nature and community.
Today, the Hima Network has grown into a national movement, bringing together communities across Lebanon around a shared vision of conservation and sustainable development. Mona’s contribution to that movement will always be remembered. Her legacy is embedded in the coastline she helped protect, the communities she inspired, and the countless volunteers whose lives she touched.
Yet her greatest legacy may be found on the beaches she loved most.
Every nesting season, sea turtles return to the shores of Hima Qoleileh–Mansouri. They emerge from the sea, lay their eggs in the sand, and entrust the future of their species to the very beaches Mona spent decades defending. As future generations of hatchlings make their journey toward the Mediterranean, they will unknowingly follow paths safeguarded by her dedication.
God only knows whether the footprints Mona left on those sandy shores will ever truly be replaced. God only knows whether another pair of hands will watch over those nests with the same devotion, tenderness, and determination.
Some people leave behind projects. Others leave behind institutions.
Mona leaves behind a living legacy.
She leaves behind protected beaches, empowered communities, inspired volunteers, strengthened conservation efforts, and generations of sea turtles that will continue to find refuge along Lebanon’s southern coast because she chose to dedicate her life to their protection.
Mona, you earned our respect, our friendship, and our admiration.
You will always hold a special place within the Hima Network, within the SPNL family, and within the hearts of everyone privileged enough to work alongside you.
But perhaps no one will miss you more than your beloved sea turtles.
May God bless your kind soul.
May you finally rest in peace.
