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Important Bird Areas-IBAs: Anjar Kfar Zabad

By SPNL
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Location:

Eastern Bekaa, at foot of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range, in the municipalities of Anjar and Kfar Zabad. Total area: 326 ha

 IBA Criteria met: A1

Explanation:

At least fifteen breeding pairs of Syrian Serins (Serinus syriacus) were present at the site in spring 2005, plus Lebanon’s second only record of Bearded Tit. Number of species observed: 69

Hima Anjar - Kfar Zabad

Habitat:

Freshwater wetland, Agriculture / cultivation, Woodland / forest

Other wildlife interest:

Common Otter (Lutra lutra), Wild Cat (Felis sylvestris), reptiles and amphibians.

kfar_zabad,_hima_entrance[1] (2)

Threats:

Hunting, disturbance of birds, water abstraction, diversion of water/canalization, irrigation, agricultural intensification, grazing.

Spring flowers blossom next to marshland and Anti-Lebanon Mountain at Kfar Zabad Globally Important Birding Area in Bekka Valley region of Lebanon Monday April 28, 2008. In 2005, the Kfar Zabad wetlands earned Hima status through the collaboration of local municipality officials and landowners with SPNL and other organizations engaged in wildlife conservation and eco-tourism.
Spring flowers blossom next to marshland and Anti-Lebanon Mountain at Kfar Zabad Globally Important Birding Area in Bekka Valley region of Lebanon Monday April 28, 2008. In 2005, the Kfar Zabad wetlands earned Hima status through the collaboration of local municipality officials and landowners with SPNL and other organizations engaged in wildlife conservation and eco-tourism.

 Current conservation measures & future plans:

Declaration of Hima at Kfar Zabad, including hunting ban, access restriction, habitat creation / restoration. Current-declaration of Hima at Anjar from the mountain slopes along the riverside. Future – Extension of Hima conservation approach to the entire site.

Al Hima Magazine 6th Issue

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The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) has released the sixth issue of Al Hima magazine, focusing on the upcoming IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi (October 8–15, 2025), where SPNL will join four key sessions. The issue features an exclusive interview with IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak, who emphasizes aligning IUCN’s work with global biodiversity agendas, governance, member responsiveness, multilateral engagement, ethical use of technology, and amplifying diverse voices.

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