New sites in Kefraya, Saghbine, Lala, Baaloul and Joub Jannine bring the project area’s Hima network to ten.
SPNL’s fieldwork and engagement with municipalities in West Bekaa have led to the establishment of five new Himas, doubling the number within the project’s target area to ten.
The new Himas in Kefraya, Saghbine, Lala, Baaloul and Joub Jannine join existing sites in Mansoura, Kherbet Qanafar, Ain Zebdeh, Aitanit and Qaraoun. The expansion marks a further step under SPNL’s DIMFE-funded project, “Sustainable Water Ecosystems Restoration: Reviving the Upper Litani River and Qaraoun Lake.”
Turning municipal dialogue into local commitments
The five new Himas grew out of municipal meetings and sustained engagement across the target villages. These discussions connected freshwater conservation objectives with local priorities and built support for a shared approach to managing natural resources.
Through the Hima approach, municipalities and communities take an active role in caring for their surroundings. The expanded network provides a foundation for conservation action led by local institutions and residents.
Connecting conservation across land and water
The Upper Litani River and Qaraoun Lake are closely linked to the surrounding landscapes and communities. Protecting them requires cooperation across municipal boundaries to manage natural resources and reduce pollution.
The ten Himas provide a growing basis for this cooperation. They complement the project’s direct work on pollution prevention and wastewater management by strengthening the local participation and shared responsibility needed to sustain environmental improvements.
The project is implemented by SPNL with support from the Donors’ Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems (DIMFE).
