Initial participatory workshops lay the foundations for two community-led Hima Management Plans.
The development of the Hima Btekhnay and Hima Qarnayel Management Plans has begun through participatory workshops bringing together representatives of local stakeholder groups in each village. The first workshop for Btekhnay was held on the 7th of September 2026, while that of Qarnayel was held on the 12th of September. Conducted under the SDC-funded project, “Upper Beirut River Valley: Towards Establishing Lebanon’s First Natural Park,” these workshops mark the start of collaborative planning processes to guide the future management of both Himas.
Participants explored site identity: what defines each place, what makes it distinctive, and which local values and resources should guide its management. Situation analysis exercises helped participants reflect on current conditions, identify concerns, and establish a shared starting point for further discussions. These exchanges brought local knowledge into the planning process while allowing each Hima’s particular context and priorities to emerge.
The initial workshops laid the groundwork for the next stages. Future sessions will build on these findings through SWOT and stakeholder analyses, followed by the development of problem trees and objective trees. Participants will then group and prioritize objectives before developing action plans that translate agreed priorities into practical steps.
By involving stakeholders from the outset, both processes place community participation and shared responsibility at the heart of Hima management. Each plan will respond to its own local context while contributing to a common ambition: a network of locally managed Himas that helps bring the Upper Beirut River Valley Natural Park to life.
