In a vibrant display of youth engagement and environmental stewardship, a group of students from the American University of Beirut (AUB) has joined the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) at the Hima Farm in Hammana for a hands-on community service initiative. This immersive experience is part of SPNL’s broader efforts to promote sustainability and reconnect young people with nature through the revival of the traditional Hima approach.
Over several days, the students have been actively supporting local sustainability efforts, participating in ecological farming tasks, biodiversity monitoring, and learning directly from SPNL’s field experts about nature-based solutions to today’s most pressing environmental challenges. The Hima Farm—established as a model of community-based conservation—offers a unique platform for experiential learning, where theory meets practice in the heart of Lebanon’s scenic mountains.
“For many of us, this is the first time we’ve engaged with conservation work at the grassroots level,” said an AUB student majoring in Environmental Health. “It’s incredibly empowering to see how local communities and environmental organizations can come together to protect nature and build resilience.”
But the students’ involvement doesn’t stop there. As Hammana gears up for its annual Cherry Festival—an event that draws thousands of visitors celebrating the town’s iconic fruit and rural heritage—SPNL and the student volunteers will be taking part in “awareness roaming” activities. These include engaging directly with festival-goers through interactive discussions, distributing educational materials, and sharing stories about the Hima model and its role in preserving Lebanon’s natural and cultural landscapes.
“This is about more than just volunteering,” said Rami Kadro, SPNL’s Hima Center Manager . “It’s about planting the seeds of environmental responsibility in young minds and giving them the tools to advocate for sustainable change. The Cherry Festival is the perfect setting to communicate this message to the wider public in a joyful and inclusive way.”
The Hima approach, which dates back more than 1,500 years, is rooted in the principle of collective responsibility and community stewardship over natural resources. By integrating this time-honored concept into modern conservation practices, SPNL has been pioneering a model that is locally grounded and globally relevant—addressing issues ranging from illegal hunting and habitat loss to climate change and food security.
The initiative in Hammana is one of many community-led actions that SPNL is supporting across Lebanon as part of its 2025 strategy to empower youth, strengthen partnerships with municipalities, and promote sustainable livelihoods through conservation.
As the students wrap up their week at Hima Farm and prepare to take part in the festive atmosphere of Hammana’s Cherry Festival, they carry with them more than memories—they carry knowledge, awareness, and a renewed sense of purpose.
“We came to serve, but we’re leaving inspired,” said Karim, a biology student. “And we hope to share that inspiration wherever we go.”
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