His Excellency MP Simon Abi Ramia, member of the Parliamentary Committee for the Environment, signed a support document for the Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), in cooperation with the Middle East Sustainable Hunting Center (MESHC) and the international organization CABS. This step comes as part of national efforts to protect biodiversity and curb illegal wildlife hunting, especially of migratory birds.
APU and Its Partners: A Comprehensive Institutional Framework
The Anti-Poaching Unit is a pioneering initiative launched by SPNL in partnership with CABS and MESHC. It aims to monitor and prevent illegal practices against birds and wildlife in Lebanon through trained field teams conducting awareness campaigns, monitoring threatened areas, and coordinating with official authorities to ensure the enforcement of laws protecting endangered species and sustaining ecosystems.
The unit relies on the support of over 40 volunteers and environmental activists, with financial contributions from the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, the EU-funded BioConnect project, as well as support from CABS and BirdLife International.
A Broad National Alliance to Enhance Law Enforcement
APU operates within a national alliance that includes:
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Internal Security Forces (Ministry of Interior)
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The Lebanese Army (Ministry of Defense)
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Forest Rangers (Ministry of Agriculture)
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Ministry of Environment
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Municipal unions and councils, and municipal police
This alliance aims to ensure better enforcement of laws, promote sustainable hunting practices, and raise community awareness to protect biodiversity.
A Key Institutional Milestone: Historic Memorandum of Understanding
On April 4, 2025, SPNL and CABS signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen bird protection and combat illegal hunting in Lebanon. This MoU, effective from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026, establishes a clear legal and operational framework that includes joint field patrols, awareness sessions, municipal engagement, and enhanced media and legal awareness activities.
Media and Documentation Role to Promote Transparency
On March 31, 2025, SPNL commented on the worsening poaching activities in the Terbol area in northern Lebanon, calling for increased public and institutional support to protect migratory birds through the documentation of violations and enhanced legal monitoring.
Impressive Humanitarian Field Initiatives
On April 24, 2025, a Lebanese hunter handed over three long-eared owl chicks to the APU after finding them in an abandoned nest following the death of their mother. The chicks are currently receiving veterinary care until they regain the ability to fly and return to their natural habitat.
A Word of Thanks and Appreciation
On the occasion of the signing, the unit’s leadership presented MP Abi Ramia with a certificate of appreciation, recognizing his ongoing support for bird protection efforts and environmental initiatives, and the unique role of APU in putting an end to violations against biodiversity in our country.
