SPNL Director General Represents Lebanon at the Launch of the GEF CSO Challenge Program
Lebanon’s environmental leadership took center stage at the Eighth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, as Mr. Assad Serhal, Director General of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), joined prominent international conservation leaders in a high-level side event dedicated to strengthening the role of civil society organizations in addressing the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
The event, entitled “Scaling-Up CSO-led Environmental Solutions for Transformational Change – Launch of the GEF Small Grants Program CSO Challenge Program,” brought together senior representatives from governments, international organizations, and grassroots movements to explore how civil society can accelerate environmental action while ensuring that no one is left behind. The initiative places particular emphasis on empowering women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities as drivers of transformative change.
Representing Lebanon and the wider Middle East conservation community, Assad Serhal participated in the session “Voices from the Front Lines,” alongside environmental leaders from Zimbabwe and the global CBD Women’s Caucus. The panel highlighted successful grassroots environmental initiatives and explored how local organizations can play a greater role in advancing global biodiversity, climate, and land restoration goals.
Bringing Lebanon’s Hima Experience to the Global Stage
During the discussion, Serhal shared SPNL’s decades-long experience in reviving and modernizing the traditional Hima approach to community-based conservation. The Hima model, rooted in centuries-old cultural practices across the Arab region, places local communities at the center of natural resource management and biodiversity protection.
Through SPNL’s pioneering efforts, the Hima approach has evolved into one of the region’s most recognized community conservation frameworks, linking biodiversity protection with sustainable livelihoods, cultural heritage, and local governance.
Addressing an audience of international policymakers, conservation practitioners, and civil society representatives, Serhal emphasized that environmental sustainability cannot be achieved without meaningful community participation.
“Conservation succeeds when local communities become partners rather than beneficiaries,” Serhal stressed, highlighting how community stewardship has helped protect critical habitats, migratory bird corridors, wetlands, forests, and cultural landscapes throughout Lebanon.
Global Recognition for Grassroots Conservation
Serhal’s participation reflects the growing international recognition of SPNL’s work and the relevance of locally led conservation models in addressing global environmental crises.
The side event formed part of the official launch of the new GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) CSO Challenge Program, an innovative global initiative designed to identify, support, and scale up impactful environmental solutions developed by civil society organizations. The program will provide larger grants, tailored technical support, and opportunities for international visibility to selected organizations worldwide.
The initiative seeks to strengthen collaboration between the GEF, governments, and civil society actors while expanding opportunities for grassroots organizations to contribute directly to global environmental objectives.
A Strong Voice for Civil Society
The event featured opening remarks by senior international figures, including IUCN Director General Grethel Aguilar and Switzerland’s State Secretary for the Environment Katrin Schneeberger. Discussions focused on strengthening support mechanisms for civil society organizations and increasing their integration into environmental programming and policy development.
As one of the featured speakers, Serhal underscored the importance of investing in local leadership, knowledge, and innovation. He highlighted the role of community organizations in generating practical solutions to biodiversity loss, climate change, habitat degradation, and environmental injustice.
His contribution reinforced a central message emerging from the Assembly: that achieving international environmental targets requires stronger partnerships with local communities and civil society organizations that are already delivering measurable results on the ground.
Advancing Lebanon’s Environmental Diplomacy
Serhal’s participation also highlighted Lebanon’s growing contribution to international environmental dialogue. Through SPNL’s work within regional and global conservation networks, Lebanon continues to showcase innovative approaches that connect nature conservation with community resilience, cultural heritage, and sustainable development.
As global environmental challenges intensify, the experience of SPNL and the Hima movement demonstrates that locally driven solutions can provide scalable models capable of contributing to global biodiversity and climate goals.
The launch of the GEF CSO Challenge Program represents a significant opportunity for organizations worldwide to expand their impact, while the participation of leaders such as Assad Serhal illustrates the essential role that civil society continues to play in shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future for people and nature alike.
