When Assad Serhal set out on a career to protect bird habitats in his native Lebanon, it led him to discover and resurrect an ancient tribal practice called ‘Hima’. In this podcast, we hear how his work with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon is using the ‘Hima’ approach to bring nature and community closer together across the Middle East.
This edition of Al Hima magazine weaves together inspiring stories of nature conservation and community resilience, highlighting how Lebanon is being stitched back to life—one Hima at a time. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) continues its mission to preserve the country’s natural heritage by empowering local communities. A cornerstone of this effort is the BioConnect project, funded by the European Union, which has achieved three national firsts: Lebanon’s first natural park (Upper Matn), first geological park (Shouf-Jezzine), and first endowment Hima (Btekhnay).