The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) welcomed a senior delegation from UNESCO at the Luc Hoffmann Center in Kayfoun.
The visiting experts, Dr Nizar Hassan and Dr George Gharios, reviewed the final nomination file and scientific studies that SPNL prepared to designate the Beirut River Valley as Lebanon’s newest Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR).
The visit focused on the comprehensive dossier that SPNL assembled, which details the ecological, cultural, social, and spatial characteristics of the region and explains how it meets UNESCO MAB criteria for inclusion in the global network.
Building on both tradition and international standards
During the meeting, SPNL Director General Assad Serhal highlighted the strategic vision behind the nomination, underscoring how Lebanon’s traditional Hima conservation system can be integrated with international best practices for biosphere reserves. This approach exemplifies the MAB Programme’s core mission to enhance the relationship between people and their environment by combining natural and social sciences with sustainable development goals. The integration also reflects the Programme’s emphasis on solutions that are socially, culturally, and environmentally appropriate and that improve human well-being while safeguarding ecosystems.
Serhal stressed that the project will support biodiversity conservation and strengthen sustainable development across the watershed, while also positioning the Beirut River Valley as a model of community-based environmental governance. SPNL also articulated its ambition to promote the Hima model throughout Lebanon and the Arab region as a powerful local complement to national and international conservation frameworks.
Scientific excellence and spatial analysis
On the technical side, project director and GIS expert Bilal Alaouiyeh presented an in-depth overview of the scientific data, including 12 detailed analytical maps illustrating ecological connectivity, land use patterns, habitat mosaics, and watershed dynamics across the valley. These tools help demonstrate how the proposed site functions as a coherent socio-ecological landscape and meets the essential criteria for a biosphere reserve, especially its capacity to conserve biodiversity, support sustainable development, and provide a framework for education, monitoring, and research.
UNESCO delegation’s response and next steps
The UNESCO delegation praised the professionalism and thoroughness of the studies and maps submitted, noting that they align well with the expectations of the international designation process. The positive evaluation suggests that the nomination, which is expected to be submitted officially to UNESCO headquarters in France early next year, stands a strong chance of acceptance.
What this means within the global MAB network
If accepted into the WNBR, the Beirut River Valley would join a dynamic, globally recognized network of sites known as “learning places for sustainable development.” Biosphere reserves under UNESCO’s MAB Programme are internationally acknowledged for reconciling conservation with sustainable use, integrating community engagement, and acting as models for ecological stewardship, research, training, and education.
The World Network includes sites across all major ecosystems—terrestrial, coastal, and marine—and fosters international cooperation through knowledge sharing, capacity building, and the promotion of best practices among countries. Biosphere reserves also serve as platforms for addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable livelihoods.
Together, SPNL and UNESCO continue toward a shared goal: protecting Lebanon’s natural heritage and strengthening sustainable development for current and future generations.
Strengthening International Cooperation and Knowledge Exchange
In this broader international context, SPNL Director General Assad Serhal brings a unique added value to Lebanon’s engagement with the UNESCO MAB Programme. Serhal recently joined the Swiss Biosphere Reserve network as the first member from the West Asia region, reinforcing South–North cooperation within the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
During his most recent mission to Switzerland, his second official visit to Swiss biosphere reserves, Serhal initiated discussions on a structured cooperation framework focused on experience sharing, lessons learned, and capacity exchange between Lebanese and Swiss biosphere initiatives. These discussions laid the groundwork for developing joint approaches to governance models, community engagement, sustainable financing, and adaptive environmental management.
Building on these exchanges, SPNL is currently exploring the launch of a formal exchange programme in 2026, aimed at facilitating mutual learning visits, technical cooperation, and institutional capacity building between biosphere reserves. The initiative is pending the mobilization of the necessary financial resources and is expected to further anchor Lebanon’s biosphere efforts within the global MAB learning network.
National Context: Biosphere Reserves in Lebanon
If officially accepted, the Beirut River Valley would join three existing UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Lebanon, each representing unique natural and cultural landscapes:
1. Shouf Biosphere Reserve
The Shouf Biosphere Reserve stretches along the ridge of the western Mount Lebanon chain, covering roughly 5% of Lebanon’s land area. It includes diverse terrains from cedar forests and mountain peaks to deep valleys, and supports a wide range of ecosystems. The reserve was designated in 2005 and serves as a key example of sustainable development in harmony with nature, integrating conservation, ecotourism, and community engagement across 25 villages in the Shouf region.
2. Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve
Located in the Mount Lebanon range overlooking the Mediterranean Sea near the Keserwan District, Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve encompasses forests, steep mountain slopes, and river corridors. It was added to the UNESCO WNBR in 2009 and is valued for its rich biodiversity, which includes hundreds of plant species and varied wildlife. The reserve also supports local sustainable tourism and community-based conservation initiatives.
3. Jabal Al Rihane Biosphere Reserve
Situated in southern Mount Lebanon, the Jabal Al Rihane Biosphere Reserve features mosaic landscapes of evergreen forests, mountains, and valleys. Established as a biosphere reserve in 2007, it includes ancient oak forests and stretches from the Litani River basin to scenic ridges that overlook the Bekaa Valley and the Mediterranean. Its ecological diversity supports research, education, and sustainable development in the surrounding communities.
