On a crisp morning in the village of Btater, footsteps echoed along the Safa Trail as it stretched toward the village of Ghboun, marking more than a sporting event. The environmental and sports activity, joined by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), was a living reminder of how nature, heritage, and community can converge along Lebanon’s historic pathways.
Far from being a simple hike or race, the event formed part of a broader vision to revive traditional trails that once served as vital arteries between villages. For generations, these paths enabled social exchange, cultural interaction, and local trade. Today, SPNL is working to restore them as tools for sustainable development and responsible ecotourism.
Trails as Living Heritage
SPNL views trails not merely as natural routes, but as living heritage corridors. Reconnecting villages through a network of environmental and cultural trails opens new opportunities for eco-friendly tourism, local guiding, rural hospitality, and small community-based businesses, all while preserving landscapes and minimizing ecological impact.
Participants were introduced to the area’s rich biodiversity, from forest ecosystems and native plant species to wildlife habitats that form an essential part of Lebanon’s natural heritage. Particular attention was given to Hima trails, community-managed protected areas that embody a model of conservation rooted in local stewardship and shared responsibility.
Where Sport Meets Awareness
The activity blended physical movement with environmental education. Along the route, participants stopped at interpretive points highlighting archaeological, cultural, and religious landmarks embedded in the landscape. These moments transformed the trail into an open-air classroom, strengthening awareness of village identity and historical continuity.
In this context, sport became a gateway to environmental consciousness, encouraging participants to engage with nature not as spectators, but as active custodians of the land.
Nature as a Community Asset
SPNL emphasizes that initiatives like this help restore the bond between people and their environment while opening new pathways for responsible nature-based tourism. When managed in partnership with local communities, natural landscapes can generate social and economic benefits without compromising ecological integrity.
At a time when Lebanon faces overlapping environmental and economic challenges, such initiatives offer a grounded, hopeful model. By walking old paths with renewed purpose, villages reconnect, communities mobilize, and nature becomes a shared foundation for resilience.
On the Hima trails, the journey does not end at the finish line. It continues as a collective commitment to protect Lebanon’s landscapes and heritage for generations to come.
