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Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon - SPNL is one of the oldest environmental NGOs in Lebanon. It was established in 1983 under the Lebanese Laws and licensed by the Ministry of Interior by decision no. 6/AD dated 8/1/1986. SPNL is the national partner for BirdLife International in Lebanon. It considers birds as entry points for the conservation of wider natural resources, as they act as key indicators of the status and health of ecosystems. Since its establishment in 1986, SPNL has advocated the establishment of protected areas and initiated with the Ministry of Environment the protected areas in Lebanon. After twenty years of experience working with nature reserves through government agencies, SPNL is now reviving and advocating the Hima community-based conservation approach prevalent in the Arabic region for more than 1500 years. SPNL has a long experience in scientific research (mainly avifauna and biodiversity), education and awareness, advocacy and networking, and community development. As a national environmental NGO in Lebanon, SPNL has widely contributed to raising awareness on environmental issues and concretely protecting natural areas in Lebanon. As a World Conservation Union (IUCN) member, SPNL has helped develop the first biodiversity project in Lebanon, the Protected Areas Project. SPNL has established the Environment Information Center (EIC), a key resource for providing environmental information to students, teachers, and researchers in this field.

Explore our Himas
What we doHimaBiodiversity Guardianship
  • SPNL’s strategy is decentralized from the government and links people to nature
  • Provides complementary environmental awareness & trainings such as green school education for children, capacity building for the youth, women empowerment & skills’ enhancement, social cohesion, peacebuilding and advocacy & partnerships.
  • All solutions provided by SPNL fall under the Hima Umbrella. (Holistic Approach)
  • “Hima” means protected place. It’s an ancient system that originated in the Arabic
  • Peninsula as a conservation tool where people protected green spaces by banning
  • tree-cutting, dumping waste (Land, water), hunting, violence, war.. (without peace,
  • conservation cannot be sustained).
  • SPNL strives to revive the Hima since 2004 by incorporating modern science, art
  • and technology into the traditional approach while preserving its values & culture (Hybrid Hima system) .
  • SPNL established 32 Himas so Far in Lebanon
Criteria for Selecting Hima
01
Ownership: Publicly owned to serve the good of the community.
Nature & biodiversity values: Possess important natural resource, globally endangered species
Socio-economic & cultural values: Contributes to the livelihoods of the community, empowers minorities, social cohesion and traditional & cultural practices
SPNL promotes conservation of endangered species through
02
Scientific surveys Awareness campaigns Conservation efforts Action plans
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBBA)
03
For 40 years, SPNL worked to protect nature and wildlife, resulting in the declaration of 15 Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in Lebanon
Variety in habitats, ecosystems, biodiversity & bottlenecks for migration
From the 15 identified IBBA sites only 5 were Nature Reserves
Success Story: Planting 2,500 trees in two Lebanese villages
04
Re-forestation by growing fruit trees such as almond, olive and cherry was an important step to restore damages to green space caused by both the civil war and fires.
The trees planted in Hima Anjar & Hammana will also restore ecosystems, protect animals and migratory birds
Success Story: HIMA Anjar & Kfarzabad
05
The project has successfully engaged local communities in eco-tourism activities: birdwatching, guided nature walks & educational programs all leading to the restoration of wetlands that are essential habitats for endangered bird species like Syrian Serin.
Also, these activities were alternative income-resources for the locals.
SPNL Looking Forward
06
Goals: • Establish the first Natural park in Lebanon • Expand from identification and selection to a network of Himas covering Lebanon, connecting corridors and buffer zones with fragmented habitats and ecosystems. This network aims to link protected areas and communities, with potential replications in the Middle East.
Establish Hima biodiversity hub at Luc Hoffmann Hima Home, transforming it into a green building that serves as an awareness hub and helps SPNL in energy and cost savings, improving environmental footprint.

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The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) is dedicated to conserving biodiversity, promoting sustainable development, and safeguarding Lebanon’s natural and cultural heritage. As the national partner of BirdLife International, SPNL embraces the Hima approach, a community-based conservation model that harmonizes nature, people, and culture. Through education, advocacy, and partnerships, we empower communities to protect vital ecosystems and species while ensuring livelihoods and well-being. Join us in our mission to preserve Lebanon's unique environment for future generations. Visit our website or follow us on social media to learn more and support our initiatives. Together, we can make a difference.

Horsh Kayfoun, Luc Hoffmann Hima Center،, Itani, Kayfoun, Mount Lebanon