Iklim Al Kharoub Responsible hunters spearhead the fight against mist nets and the anti-poaching unit (APU), together with the security forces, removes about 400 meters of nets

Responsible hunters in the Iklim Al Kharoub, Chouf region, Mount Lebanon, specifically in the towns of Barja and al-Borjen, are playing a great role in combating excessive hunting with mist nets, which is a disaster for the true hobby of hunting.

Based on documented complaints, the Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) – affiliated with the Middle East Center for Sustainable Hunting (MESHC) and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), in partnership with the international Committee Against Birds Slaughter (CABS) – removed violations in these two areas in cooperation with the Internal Security Forces (ISF). Some 400 meters of mist nets have been removed.

The head of the anti-poaching unit, Shirine Bou Rafoul, paid a visit with her team to Captain Mohamed el Akoum, the commander of the Barja platoon in the the internal security forces, to thank him for his great cooperation in getting the mission implemented, and to emphasize cooperation with the General Directorate of the Lebanese Internal Security Forces, headed by Major General Imad Othman, who is paying special attention to nature conservation and to the fight against excessive hunting, and also the head of the public relations unit Colonel Joseph Musallam, who is a prime mover in this file.

Lebanon is committed to tackling illegal bird crime. SPNL and its partners are pleased that there is a significant increase in enforcement activity that has led to a record number of arrests, equipment seizures, prosecutions, and fines.
According to hunting law (580/2004) violations can be punished with a fine of up to 500,000 Lira or alternatively with up to one-month imprisonment. In addition, the hunting permit can be withdrawn for up to three years in the case of serious offenses. In the case of repeat offenders, the double penalty applies.
The anti-poaching project in Lebanon is based on partnership and cooperation between MESHC and SPNL on the one hand, and between SPNL and the MSB – Migratory Soaring Birds Project funded by the Global Environment Fund (GEF) and the project to fight illegal hunting funded by MAVA, and the EV New LIFE project, under the EU fund, on the other hand.