With deep sadness and heavy hearts, the Arab and international environmental community bids farewell to our dear friend, educator, and passionate environmentalist, Adnan Al-Bdeiri, a man whose dedication to nature and people left an indelible mark across our region and beyond.
Adnan was never just another figure in the field of nature conservation. He was one of the first pioneers who understood that the relationship between people and nature cannot be built on exclusion or isolation, but on partnership, respect, and shared responsibility. His professional journey began in Jordan, following his graduation with a degree in nature conservation and management of marine and freshwater reserves. He quickly became a pillar of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, overseeing the management and establishment of some of Jordan’s most iconic protected areas, including Dana, Mujib, Zubia, Azraq Wetland Reserve, and Shaumari Wildlife Reserve.
But Adnan’s true legacy blossomed in the early 1990s when he embraced the revival of the Hima concept — an ancient, community-based conservation system rooted in the Arab world. At a time when traditional protected areas were often closed off, excluding local communities from benefiting from natural resources, Adnan championed the Hima model as a solution that restores balance: conserving nature while empowering people to use natural resources sustainably.
His relationship with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) was a natural extension of that vision. He was a trusted partner and a consistent voice for reintroducing the Hima model in Lebanon and the region. Adnan firmly believed that protecting birds, wetlands, and forests is impossible without engaging local communities as essential stewards of these landscapes.
On the international stage, Adnan proudly represented Jordan and the Arab world through his work with BirdLife International and the Global Wetland Conservation Association, among others. He played a leading role in building vital databases of Important Bird Areas and wetlands across the Middle East, fostering partnerships between environmental organizations and government bodies, and tirelessly working to secure funding for conservation efforts that benefit both people and wildlife.
But Adnan was more than an expert or administrator. He was a mentor to generations of young conservationists, an inspiring role model for anyone who believed that environmental work is a human duty, not just a career. His legacy is not only found in databases or protected areas but in the countless stories of hope, struggle, and commitment he left behind — and in the warm, unforgettable smile that defined him.
Today, at SPNL, we mourn the loss of a dear friend, a trusted partner, and a true visionary. Yet, we renew our commitment to continue his mission: to carry the torch of the Hima, to plant seeds of hope, and to protect nature as Adnan dreamed — as a space for life, dignity, and partnership between people and the land.
Rest in peace, dear friend of the earth.
Your footsteps remain etched on nature’s paths, your memory alive in every Hima, every bird that takes flight, and every pulse of life on this planet.
To God we belong, and to Him we shall return.
