The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) mourns with profound sadness the passing of Mona Khalil, one of Lebanon’s most dedicated environmental defenders and a tireless champion of sea turtle conservation.
Mona devoted her life to protecting Lebanon’s natural heritage, particularly the fragile coastal ecosystems of southern Lebanon and the endangered sea turtles that found in her one of their fiercest guardians. Her work extended far beyond conservation projects; she inspired communities, mentored generations of volunteers, and helped build a culture of environmental stewardship rooted in local ownership and collective responsibility.
For decades, Mona stood at the forefront of conservation efforts along the southern coast, contributing significantly to the protection of one of Lebanon’s most important sea turtle nesting sites in Hima Qoleileh–Mansouri, a seven-kilometer stretch of sandy and rocky shoreline that hosts more than fifty-eight endangered sea turtle nests annually.
Her contribution was instrumental in advancing the Hima approach, strengthening cooperation between local communities, municipalities, environmental organizations, youth groups, and volunteers to safeguard biodiversity while promoting sustainable local development.
On this occasion, Assad Serhal, Director General of SPNL, paid tribute to Mona’s extraordinary legacy:
“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.”
He added:
“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 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.”
Reflecting on their joint efforts, Serhal said:
“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. Mona was among the strongest pillars of that effort.”
He continued:
“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. She never gave up, never hesitated, and never compromised when it came to protecting sea turtles and preserving their fragile habitat.”
Serhal also recalled Mona’s remarkable character:
“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. To her, they were not simply a conservation priority—they were family.”
He emphasized that Mona earned the respect of SPNL and the wider conservation community through action rather than words:
“She proved her commitment repeatedly, year after year, through hard work, persistence, courage, and unwavering dedication to nature and community.”
Looking to the future, Serhal noted:
“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.”
He concluded with a heartfelt farewell:
“Mona 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. She earned our respect, our friendship, and our admiration. She 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 her. But perhaps no one will miss her more than her beloved sea turtles. May God bless her kind soul and grant her eternal peace.”
SPNL extends its deepest condolences to Mona Khalil’s family, friends, colleagues, volunteers, and all those whose lives she touched.
The greatest tribute to Mona’s memory is to continue the mission she devoted her life to: protecting nature, safeguarding sea turtles, empowering local communities, and ensuring that future generations inherit a healthier and more resilient environment.
May her memory remain a source of inspiration, and may her legacy continue to guide conservation efforts in Lebanon and beyond.
