The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), in collaboration with its partners under the BioConnect project, is working to support the restoration of the Hima system in Southern Lebanon. This comes in response to the significant environmental damage caused by the recent Israeli aggression against Lebanon, which has led to severe vegetation cover loss and degradation of key forest ecosystems.
A geospatial impact assessment conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has revealed substantial negative changes in Lebanon’s forest cover due to the conflict of 2023-2024. Using advanced remote sensing technology, including Sentinel-2, Landsat 7 and 8 satellite imagery, and high-resolution Maxar imagery, experts have identified extensive deforestation and vegetation loss, particularly in evergreen and deciduous forests. The assessment, which compared vegetation conditions between the baseline period of October 2019 – October 2023 and post-conflict October 2024, highlights the urgent need for intervention.
Key messages from the FAO study include:
- Area change (ha) within 355 ha hexagonal cells:
- No change: 0-1 ha, 1-3 ha, 3-5 ha, >5 ha
- Assessment by forest categories:
- A geospatial impact assessment was conducted to detect significant negative changes in vegetation cover for forest categories during the conflict of 2023-2024 in Lebanon. The assessment used the baseline period of October 2019 to October 7, 2023, compared to October 2024, without field validation.
- Sentinel-2 satellite imagery (10m resolution) was utilized for establishing a baseline land cover for 2023. Landsat 7 and 8 imageries (30m resolution) were used to analyze negative vegetation changes. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to compare forest categories conditions between the baseline and the October 2024 periods.
- Additionally, very high-resolution Maxar satellite imagery (<0.5 m) was used to calibrate the impact assessment model for different forest categories (evergreen and deciduous).
- Negative Vegetation Cover Changes refers to a reduction in the density or extent of vegetation cover over a specific area, often due to factors such as conflict, environmental degradation, or adverse climatic events.
Negative vegetation cover changes by governorate:
- Total impacted forest area: 4,957 ha, with 4,563 ha in evergreen forests (92 percent) and 394 ha in deciduous forests (8 percent).
- Distribution by governorate:
- Mount Lebanon: 1,315 ha (27 percent)
- South: 887 ha (18 percent)
- Akkar: 810 ha (16 percent)
- Other regions also experienced significant changes, including Baalbek-El Hermel, Bekaa, El Nabatieh, and North Lebanon.
“The Hima approach is deeply rooted in Lebanon’s cultural and ecological identity. By restoring these areas, we are not only reviving our forests but also strengthening community engagement in nature conservation,” said Assad Serhal, Director General at SPNL. “Our collaboration under the BioConnect project will enhance biodiversity, support sustainable livelihoods, and contribute to climate resilience.”
Key interventions under the initiative will include:
- Community Engagement: Empowering local communities to take an active role in conservation through sustainable land management practices.
- Biodiversity Monitoring: Utilizing remote sensing technologies to track ecosystem recovery and ensure effective restoration efforts.
- Policy Advocacy: Collaborating with policymakers to integrate ecosystem restoration into national environmental strategies.
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Overview of the BioConnect Project
The BioConnect Project, funded by the European Union, aims to enhance the management and governance of environmentally significant sites in southern Lebanon and establish new protected areas to preserve natural landscapes and biodiversity on a broader scale in the region.
Project Partners
Four main partners implement the project:
- Shouf Biosphere Reserve Association (ACS)
- Association for Rural Capacities Development (ADR)
- Association for Community and Environment (ACE)
- Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL)
These partners work collectively to:
- Improve the management of significant environmental sites.
- Establish new protected areas.
- Implement “Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures” (OECMs) for more comprehensive landscape preservation.
Main Objectives
The project seeks to achieve the following goals:
- Enhancing Ecosystem Health
- Improve social and economic benefits derived from ecosystems.
- Reducing Biodiversity Pressures
- Support local communities to ensure the sustainability of conservation efforts.
Geographical Scope
The project focuses on four main regions:
- Southern Coastal Lebanon
- Western Bekaa
- Mount Lebanon
- Southern Lebanon Mountains
Targeted Sites
The project covers the following Himas:
- Qolaila and Mansouri
- Khirbet Qanafar
- Ain Zebdeh
- Hammana
- Ras el-Metn
- Ibl es-Saqi
Project Duration
The project spans 45 months, from February 1, 2022, to October 31, 2025.
Strategic Goals
1. Biodiversity Conservation
- Develop and implement monitoring protocols for biodiversity, including plants, birds, mammals, and other wildlife.
- Increase knowledge of biodiversity in the targeted areas.
- Create citizen science protocols to ensure the sustainability of research efforts.
- Reduce habitat fragmentation by improving connectivity between natural landscapes.
2. Empowering Traditional Practices
- Support farmers through the “Hima Farm Program” to promote the transition to more sustainable agricultural practices.
3. Education and Capacity Building
- Deliver educational programs through initiatives such as:
- “School Without Walls” (SNOW) for children.
- “Youth Hima Rangers” for young conservationists.
- Develop eco-tourism activities to enhance the ecological tourism value of targeted areas.
- Organize annual Hima Forums to enable Hima leaders to share success stories.
4. Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
- Establish an ecosystem-based framework to address climate change challenges.
- Strengthen the resilience of protected areas to climate change impacts.
5. Policy-Making
- Collaborate with municipalities to draft local policies for biodiversity conservation.
- Promote sustainable resource use in hunting, farming, and fishing activities.
