From Tradition to Global Conservation: How Hima Aligns with IUCN’s Criteria and CBD’s 30×30 Target

In December 2022, over 190 countries adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (also known as The Biodiversity Plan) – an international commitment to better protect the planet that sustains us all. The framework includes 23 targets aimed at reversing habitat and species loss. Target 3, colloquially known as “30×30”, specifically calls for the effective protection and management of 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas by the year 2030.

While state-designated protected areas play a crucial role, the recognition of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs), including community-led conservation models, is essential.  One such model is the Hima, a traditional community-based conservation approach prevalent in West Asia and North Africa.

How Hima legislation aligns with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria for conserved areas, ensuring its formal recognition under 30×30 ?

The Hima System and Its Legislative Foundations

Hima, meaning “protected area” in Arabic, is a centuries-old community-led conservation practice that regulates the sustainable use of natural resources. In recent years, various Middle Eastern governments and conservation organizations have sought to formalize Hima within national legal frameworks, recognizing its ecological and socio-cultural value.

IUCN Resolution WCC-2012-Res-092-EN promotes community-based resource management, emphasizing legal recognition, governance rights, and adaptive management. The resolution explicitly acknowledges Hima as a legitimate conservation system, alongside similar traditional practices like Agdal (Morocco) and Qoroq (Mongolia).

The Lebanese Legal Framework and Hima’s Alignment with IUCN Criteria

Lebanon has taken significant steps to integrate Hima into its legal framework through Protected Areas Law No.130 of 2019, which recognizes Hima as one of four main categories of protected areas. This law enhances Hima’s alignment with IUCN conserved area criteria in the following ways:

1. Long-Term Conservation Commitment
   • Alignment: The law grants legal protection to Hima, ensuring sustained biodiversity conservation. It formalizes Hima as a designated protected area, enhancing its legal standing and ensuring its contribution to conservation objectives.
   • Strengthened Protections: Unlike informal Hima arrangements, the law establishes clear mechanisms for governance and management, reducing risks of land-use changes that undermine conservation efforts.
2. Effective Governance and Management
   • Alignment: The law establishes a structured governance framework, including management committees responsible for overseeing conservation activities in each designated Hima.
   • Enhanced Legal Authority: By allowing both public and private properties to be designated as protected areas through contractual agreements, the law provides greater flexibility in conservation governance, ensuring communities play a role in management.
3. Sustainable Use of Natural Resources
   • Alignment: The law permits sustainable resource use within Hima, provided it aligns with conservation objectives. This is in line with IUCN’s recognition that sustainable use, when well-regulated, contributes to conservation goals.
   • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Integration: Any permitted activities within a Hima require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or Initial Environmental Examination (IEE), reinforcing a science-based approach to sustainable use.
4. Recognition in National and International Frameworks
   • Alignment: By legally defining Hima as a protected area category, Lebanon has strengthened its case for international recognition under the IUCN and 30×30 framework.
   • Financial Support and Institutional Integration: The law enables public and private entities, including international bodies, to fund Hima conservation initiatives, ensuring financial sustainability.

Recommendations for Further Strengthening Hima Recognition

To enhance Hima’s formal recognition as a contribution to 30×30, the following actions are recommended:

1. Expand Legal Protections and Clarity: While Law No.130 formally recognizes Hima, additional regulations should specify its governance and monitoring frameworks to further align with IUCN standards.
2. Improve Documentation and Monitoring: Establishing standardized conservation monitoring and reporting systems will enhance Hima’s recognition as an OECM.
3. Increase International Advocacy: Working with IUCN and multilateral environmental agreements will help ensure Hima’s inclusion in global conservation reporting.

Conclusion

Lebanon’s Protected Areas Law No.130 of 2019 represents a milestone in aligning Hima with IUCN conserved area criteria. By granting legal recognition, institutionalizing governance mechanisms, and ensuring sustainability, the law strengthens Hima’s role as a legitimate conservation approach. Further enhancements in monitoring, funding, and international recognition will solidify Hima as a key contributor to global biodiversity targets under 30×30.