The BioConnect project, an EU-funded initiative aimed at ensuring effective management and governance of sites of ecological importance in Southern Lebanon, held its Implementing Partners Meeting today at the European Union Delegation in Beirut. The gathering brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from Al Shouf Cedar Society (ACS), Association for the Development of Rural Capacities (ADR), Association for Community and Environment (ACE), and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), to review progress, discuss upcoming activities, and strategize the roadmap for the project’s final phase.
Launched in February 2022, BioConnect is a 45-month project running until October 2025. It focuses on enhancing the management and governance of ecologically significant sites, creating new Protected Areas and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), and promoting broader landscape conservation in Southern Lebanon. The initiative also aims to increase ecosystem health, provide socio-economic benefits, and support local communities by mitigating key pressures on biodiversity.
SPNL
Key Highlights of the Meeting:
Project Updates: Implementing partners shared progress reports on biodiversity monitoring schemes, traditional practices empowerment under the Hima farm program, and educational initiatives through SPNL’s School with No Walls (SNOW) and Homat Al Hima programs.
Challenges and Solutions: Discussions addressed challenges such as habitat loss, unsustainable resource exploitation, and the impacts of climate change. Partners explored innovative solutions, including developing a framework for ecosystem-based climate change mitigation and adaptation for Protected Areas.
Strategic Planning: The consortium outlined plans for the remaining project period, focusing on policy advocacy, capacity building, and strengthening community involvement to ensure the sustainability of conservation efforts.
The European Union Delegation in Beirut reaffirmed its support for the project, highlighting its alignment with EU priorities on environmental protection and sustainable development.
Next Steps:
As the project progresses towards its conclusion in October 2025, partners have committed to:
Expanding Conservation Efforts: Establishing additional Protected Areas and OECMs to enhance landscape connectivity and biodiversity protection.
Community Engagement: Continuing to empower local communities through education, capacity building, and sustainable livelihood initiatives.
Policy Advocacy: Collaborating with governmental bodies to draft and implement municipal decisions that safeguard biodiversity and promote sustainable resource use.
The meeting concluded with a renewed dedication to BioConnect’s mission of fostering effective management and governance of Lebanon’s ecologically significant sites.
About BioConnect
BioConnect is a collaborative project funded by the European Union, aiming to ensure effective management and governance of sites of ecological importance and expand biodiversity protection in Southern Lebanon. The initiative brings together four Lebanese partners—Al Shouf Cedar Society (ACS), Association for the Development of Rural Capacities (ADR), Association for Community and Environment (ACE), and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL)—to work towards enhancing ecosystem health, socio-economic benefits, and community support.
SPNL
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The European Union supports Lebanon’s stability, independence and sovereignty, its prosperity and democratic order. It strives also to help protect its environment and natural resources by supporting sustainable enterprise and development.
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