Mountain Pastures’ Restoration in Lebanon: A review

Project title: Building the ecologic and socio-economic resilience of the Shouf Mountain Landscape by restoring and strengthening the socio-cultural fabric which sustains its biodiversity and cultural values

Report title: Mountain Pastures’ Restoration in Lebanon: A review
Author: S. K. HamadehEnvironment and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU)- American University of Beirut

Publisher: SPNL

Download link: https://www.spnl.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/SPNL-Mountain-Pastures-Restoration-in-Lebanon-A-review_S.Hamadeh-ESDU_15.12.19.pdf

The MAVA funded Project “Building the ecologic and socio-economic resilience of the Shouf
Mountain Landscape by restoring and strengthening the socio-cultural fabric which sustains its
biodiversity and cultural values” is implemented by ACS – Al Shouf Cedar Society in partnership
with SPNL – Society for the Protection of Nature of Lebanon and aims to: (i) increase the
understanding and recognition of the links between the traditional practices that constitute the
cultural heritage of the landscape and its biodiversity; (ii) stop and reverse the major threats
impacting the landscape, and adapt the cultural practices to current socio-economic context
and environmental constraints – with special focus to climate change trends –through
innovations in sustainable management and the restoration of optimal conditions; (iii) ensure
the economic sustainability of the goods and services resulting from the cultural practices, by
supporting the greening of the economy; and (iv) create enabling conditions through the
improvement of policy, governance, and the capacity of all concerned stakeholders, so as to
secure the upscaling and replication of best practices in Mount Lebanon and in the other
cultural landscapes; and includes a pilot action focusing on The Shouf Mountain Landscape
comprising the southern half of Mount Lebanon and the adjacent West Beqaa foothills.
“Strategy 2”, under the project, addresses the design and implementation of restoration plans
for mountain pastures and wildlife. Activities under this component are not the first ones
tackling issues related to pastures and rangelands management in Lebanon and more
specifically in the West Bekaa.
The objective of this report is to provide a review of previous programmes, initiatives and
studies related to rangelands and pastures management and restoration in Lebanon from 2008
till today. It also summarizes the gaps for pastures management and highlights measures that
were suggested for a strengthened rangelands management. This report is based on a desk
review of available literature, projects and initiatives on projects targeting rangelands in
Lebanon in addition to consultation meetings with experts in the field (from the UNDP and
MoA).

Read it via ISSUU

This project is funded by