Environmental conservation is often perceived as a modern response to contemporary crises. Yet, in this region, the idea of protecting nature through collective responsibility is far older than modern states or environmental laws. It is rooted in a living tradition that spans more than four millennia: Hima.
The origins of Hima can be traced back to the Proto-Sinaitic writing system, developed between the 19th and 16th centuries BCE. At its symbolic core lies the root H-M-Y, where each letter carries meaning. H represents a boundary or fence, M signifies water or life, and Y denotes hand or authority. Together, they form a powerful concept: a protected boundary, enforced by authority, to safeguard vital resources, especially water and land.
At this early stage, Hima was not yet a formal institution. It existed as a shared cognitive and ethical framework, a philosophy of environmental stewardship embedded in language itself. Over time, this concept evolved into structured governance systems.
By around 800 BCE, in the Kingdom of Saba in ancient Yemen, Hima became an official institution. Inscriptions from this period refer to protected or forbidden areas, regulated through communal authority and legal norms. The Sabaeans developed sophisticated systems for managing water, land, and natural resources, demonstrating that organized conservation was already an established practice thousands of years ago.
This legacy continued under the Himyarite Kingdom, which inherited the same script, administrative systems, and core principles of resource protection. These institutions acted as a crucial bridge, carrying environmental governance practices from ancient South Arabia into the wider pre-Islamic Arab world.
With the rise of Islam in the 7th century, Hima underwent another major transformation. It evolved from a primarily tribal practice into a state-level system guided by public interest and ethical principles. Islamic jurisprudence refined Hima rules, ensuring that protected areas served the collective good of the entire community, rather than the interests of a powerful few. For over 1,400 years, this legal and ethical framework continued to develop across the Islamic world.
Today, this ancient tradition is being revived and reimagined to address the environmental challenges of the 21st century.
In Lebanon, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) is leading this revival through the Smart Hima approach. Smart Hima integrates modern technologies such as GIS mapping, remote sensing, and digital monitoring with the traditional principles of Hima. This fusion allows local communities to manage their natural resources effectively, using data-driven decision-making while remaining rooted in cultural and ethical heritage.
By empowering communities, protecting biodiversity, and promoting sustainable resource management, Smart Hima demonstrates that solutions to climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation can be found by reconnecting with our past.
Hima is not an obsolete concept. It is an unbroken chain of knowledge, a civilizational journey that proves environmental governance is deeply rooted in this region’s history. By looking back, we can move forward with stronger, fairer, and more sustainable solutions for the future.
🌿 From ancient wisdom to modern conservation, Hima continues.
