By Wassim El Khatib
Director, Homat Al Hima International Center, Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL)
Qolalieh and Al Mansouri, two coastal villages in southern Lebanon, once stood as vital ecological sanctuaries and flagship sites within the EU-supported Bio-Connect project. Among the first himas established in Lebanon, they embodied a powerful model of community-led conservation, integrating both coastal and inland ecosystems rich in biodiversity.
A Legacy of Collaboration
The success of these himas was built upon decades of tireless effort. Central to this were the two municipalities, whose commitment and leadership over the years provided the backbone for all conservation achievements. Alongside them, the Women’s Association and the Local Fishermen’s Group played indispensable roles in weaving environmental stewardship into the social fabric of the villages.
A vital pillar of this progress was the partnership with the Association for the Development of Rural Capacities (ADR), our key partner with the EU in the South. Together with numerous stakeholders, volunteers, and the dedicated team from the Orange House, led by Mona El Khalil, a monumental effort was sustained over decades. This team worked around the clock, every season, to monitor and protect an average of 58 endangered sea turtle nests annually. Their vigilance ensured that from the moment eggs were laid until the hatchlings safely returned to the sea at the end of each summer, the cycle of life remained unbroken.
Environmental Triumphs
These collective efforts led to transformative changes in the local environment:
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Protection of the Coastline: They successfully halted encroachments on the sandy beaches and fragile sand dunes, preserving the integrity of the shore.
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Sustainable Fisheries: The groups achieved a definitive end to destructive practices, such as dynamite and poison fishing, and significantly reduced other illegal violations.
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Resource Management: By introducing sustainable visitor management and ethical fishing practices, they ensured that the sea remained a source of life rather than a depleted resource.
Fishermen benefited from targeted training programs that introduced legal methods and seasonal adherence, restoring the marine balance. Similarly, local farmers adopted eco-friendly pesticides and sustainable land management, reducing harm to the surrounding ecosystems while maintaining productivity.
Education and Stewardship
These efforts extended beyond the shorelines and into local schools through SPNL’s SNOW programs. Students were engaged in environmental education, fostering a new generation of conscious citizens. At the core of this success were local leaders such as Adnan and Abed, members of Homat Al Hima, who became true stewards of their environment through continuous training and EU-funded support.
The Present Devastation: A System Collapsed
Today, that entire system has collapsed. Under the impact of war and repeated attacks, life has vanished from these areas—for people, for animals, and for the fragile plant life like the Sea Daffodil (Pancratium maritimum) that once flourished.
The human foundation of the hima system has been severed. Adnan, Abed, and the local communities are now displaced, living as refugees. The years of capacity-building, the equipment provided through SPNL and EU initiatives, and the decades of meticulous turtle conservation at the Orange House have been rendered ineffective in the face of widespread devastation.
There are no shelters left, no safe spaces for residents, and no protection for wildlife. Perhaps most tragically, the loss is taking place in a vacuum of silence. Most of the people of Qolalieh and Al Mansouri depended on fishing for their survival; today, many have lost their boats—their only source of income and their final connection to the sea. Others relied on agriculture, but there is no longer any safe or viable land to cultivate.
Qolalieh and Al Mansouri must be remembered for what they were: living proof that humans can coexist with and protect nature. Their destruction is not merely a local tragedy, but a stark warning of how fragile such systems become in times of conflict. What has been lost is real, and it must be acknowledged.
