In the lush hills of Jbeil, a troubling discovery recently came to light: nearly 150 meters of illegal “death nets” stretched across the waters of the Lehfed area. These indiscriminate traps — notorious for capturing everything in their path — left behind grim evidence of mass killings, including feathers, severed heads, and wings of freshly caught birds.
Responding to a documented complaint submitted by sustainable hunters, the Anti-Poaching Unit (APU), in collaboration with the Internal Security Forces, dismantled and removed the nets. The operation highlights the ongoing battle against illegal trapping practices that devastate biodiversity and threaten migratory species along Lebanon’s critical flyways.
Although this intervention targeted a single site, it represents just one of tens of thousands of illegal trapping locations across the country. Lebanon remains one of the most dangerous places for migratory birds, with an estimated 2.5 million birds illegally killed each year, despite existing legal protections.
International Collaboration
The operation in Lehfed coincides with the autumn migration season and the launch of Lebanon’s annual bird protection camp. International teams from the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS) — including experts from the UK, Germany, and Turkey — will join forces with SPNL and the Middle East Sustainable Hunting Center (MESHC). Together, and in close coordination with the Internal Security Forces and the Lebanese Army, they will monitor key migratory bottlenecks, investigate trapping hotspots, and disrupt illegal practices such as the use of nets and limesticks across mountain passes, coastal areas, and the Beqaa Valley.
About the APU
The APU is jointly operated by MESHC and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL). It is supported by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, in collaboration with BirdLife International and in partnership with CABS. Operations are conducted in close coordination with Lebanese authorities, including the Internal Security Forces, Intelligence and Investigations Branch, and Military Intelligence.
Part of the BioConnect Project
The work of the APU also contributes to the BioConnect project — a 45-month initiative running through October 2025. BioConnect aims to:
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Improve management and governance of ecologically important sites
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Establish new protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs)
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Enhance conservation across landscapes while restoring ecosystem health
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Deliver socio-economic benefits and support local communities by addressing drivers of biodiversity loss
A Step Toward Change
While the removal of 150 meters of death nets in Lehfed is just one step in a long struggle, it signals a growing determination — both locally and internationally — to protect Lebanon’s natural heritage and safeguard its role as a vital crossroads for global bird migration.
