In a step that reflects the spirit of Arab regional cooperation in facing climate and biodiversity challenges, Assaad Serhal, Director General of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) and Chairman of BirdLife International Middle East, Fadi Ghanem, Chair of the IUCN National Committee and President of Ghadi Association visited the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The delegation met with Jordanian Minister of Environment Dr. Muawieh Radaideh, in the presence of former Minister Dr. Taher Shakhshir.
Climate, Biodiversity, and Hima
Discussions focused on the pressing environmental challenges confronting the region—ranging from climate change to biodiversity loss—while highlighting the revival of the “Hima” model as a time-tested, community-based approach to natural resource management and sustainable development.
Assaad Serhal: The “Hima” Approach as a Scalable Regional Solution
Serhal shared Lebanon’s pioneering experience in reviving and applying the Hima system across various landscapes through collaboration between SPNL and local municipalities. He emphasized the model’s potential to be scaled up in Jordan and other Arab countries, serving as a culturally rooted conservation framework that empowers communities and restores degraded ecosystems.
Environmental Media and HimaEcoMedia: The Lebanese-Jordanian Nexus
Fadi Ghanem presented the role of environmental media in catalyzing environmental awareness and action. He showcased the “HimaEcoMedia” concept led by Ghadi Association, and highlighted ongoing collaborations with Jordan’s Ministry of Environment—including a successful pine tree reforestation project. Ghanem also underscored the importance of environmental journalism through “Ghadi News,” the first Arab platform combining heritage-based conservation values with modern environmental media advocacy.
Celebrating Jordanian-Lebanese Cooperation
Former Minister Dr. Taher Shakhshir commended the longstanding partnership between Ghadi Association and Jordan’s Ministry of Environment, citing it as a model for effective Arab cooperation in conservation and environmental sustainability.
Meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Regional Invitation
During the visit, the delegation also met with Jordanian Minister of Agriculture Dr. Khaled Hneifat. Assaad Serhal and Fadi Ghanem emphasized the need to align environmental and agricultural strategies to address food security and climate resilience. On behalf of Lebanon’s Minister of Agriculture Dr. Nizar Hani, Ghanem presented Minister Hneifat with an official invitation to attend the National Agricultural Conference, scheduled for May 21 in Beirut—a regional platform set to gather ministers and experts to forge sustainable agricultural pathways.
Toward a Unified Arab Environmental Front
This visit marks a significant milestone in deepening regional environmental collaboration under the umbrella of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It reaffirms the pivotal role of civil society organizations, such as SPNL and Ghadi Association, in complementing governmental efforts to address ecological and climate challenges.
The participants expressed optimism that this initiative would pave the way for launching joint environmental and agricultural projects—particularly in the areas of environmental media, the Hima system, reforestation, and sustainable agriculture—thereby reinforcing the region’s ecological resilience and commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
