Essential Butterfly Guides for Lebanon and the Middle East

Butterflies are not just beautiful creatures; they are vital to our ecosystems and serve as indicators of environmental health. Whether you are a scientist, conservationist, or nature enthusiast, understanding butterfly species and their habitats is key to protecting them. SPNL offers two comprehensive guides that serve as indispensable resources for identifying, conserving, and cultivating butterfly-friendly environments in Lebanon and the broader Middle East.

1. A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Lebanon and the Middle East

📖 The first complete reference guide to the butterfly fauna of the Levant, Arabian Peninsula, and North Africa

This groundbreaking field guide describes nearly 560 species across 21 countries and 28 ecoregions, providing extensive scientific and ecological data on butterflies found in diverse habitats. From Lebanon’s Hima sanctuaries to the remote landscapes of North Africa, this book is an essential tool for entomologists, researchers, and butterfly enthusiasts.

Key Features:

630 pages packed with scientific facts and ecological insights
140 color plates and 1,200 detailed drawings for easy identification
Comprehensive species descriptions, including distribution, morphology, color patterns, flight periods, and behavior
Covers all 165 Lebanese butterflies, plus 100 Afrotropical species, 160 endemics, and 40 threatened species
Scientific names, Arabic names, and color-coded conservation status for each species
Special focus on butterfly gardening and the role of Hima sanctuaries in conservation

📌 Funded by: IUCN and MAVA
📌 ISBN: 978995303644-1
🔗 Buy it now

This field guide is indispensable for those who trudge through remote landscapes in search of rare butterfly species, helping expand knowledge of butterfly distribution, conservation status, and habitat requirements.

2. Butterfly Gardening in Lebanon

🌿 A comprehensive guide on butterfly-friendly gardening and habitat restoration

For those looking to create butterfly-friendly environments, this 750-page guide is the first and most complete book on butterfly gardening in Lebanon. It provides detailed descriptions of butterfly species, host plants, and practical techniques to turn gardens into biodiversity-rich havens.

Key Features:

Atlas of 194 butterfly species, including 165 established species, 45 endemics, and 20 threatened species
Covers over 500 species of larval host plants (LHPs) and nectar-source plants (NSPs)
Step-by-step guidance on butterfly garden design, plant selection, and site requirements
Color-coded habitat, life cycle, behavior, and conservation status details
Maps of butterfly distribution and planting guides for native butterfly plants
Thousands of illustrations of butterflies, caterpillars, and chrysalides for easy identification
First-ever color photography of Lebanon’s butterflies in their natural habitats

📌 Funded by: MAVA
📌 ISBN: 978995304436-1
🔗 Buy it now

By investing in butterfly-friendly gardening, we can restore degraded habitats, support pollinators, and promote biodiversity in urban and rural settings.

Why These Guides Matter

These books are not just scientific references; they are conservation tools that help protect endangered species, restore ecosystems, and inspire future generations. Whether you are an experienced lepidopterist or just starting your journey into butterfly watching and conservation, these guides will equip you with the knowledge and practical tools needed to make a real impact.

📚 Support conservation and deepen your understanding of Lebanon’s butterfly heritage—get your copies today!

Al Hima Magazine 5th Issue

This edition of Al Hima magazine weaves together inspiring stories of nature conservation and community resilience, highlighting how Lebanon is being stitched back to life—one Hima at a time. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) continues its mission to preserve the country’s natural heritage by empowering local communities. A cornerstone of this effort is the BioConnect project, funded by the European Union, which has achieved three national firsts: Lebanon’s first natural park (Upper Matn), first geological park (Shouf-Jezzine), and first endowment Hima (Btekhnay).

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