By Jamal Hamzeh, MAVA “Cultural Landscape” Project Manager
Scientists recently warned that 24 billion tons of fertile soil were being lost per year, largely due to unsustainable agriculture practices. If this trend continues, 95 percent of the Earth’s land areas could become degraded by 2050. Further, pressure on land continues to rise due to the continuous increase in population size and high demand for food, loss of biodiversity and its impact on the resilience of agricultural systems, and climate change.
As part of SPNL efforts to decrease land degradation and strengthen sustainable and traditional land-use practices, specifically under MAVA “Cultural Landscape” programme and AMNC – The Alliance for Mediterranean Nature and Culture, four capacity development training targeting sustainable agriculture were organized in the months of April and May 2022, in West Bekaa and Mount Lebanon Hima sites, namely in Kherbet Kanafar, Hammana, Ras El Matn, and Kayfoun. More than 65 farmers attended the training.
The training was provided by the agricultural engineer Mr. Farid Al Ammoury, who focused on SPNL Hima Farm Programme and its different interventions, sustainable agricultural practices, terraces restoration and cultivation, integrated crop management, the procedures to be followed for planting different types of vegetables, olives planting and harvesting, and thyme planting and harvesting. The training ended with the distribution of small olive trees and thyme seedlings for all participants.
The training in Hammana and Ras El Matn were organized and implemented in collaboration with CEPF-funded project “Promote the Conservation of Biodiversity and Traditional Land-use Practices at the Socio-ecological Landscape of Upper Beirut River”.
