Following the resounding success of the BioConnect traveling exhibition held yesterday in West Bekaa, a promising new chapter in local conservation efforts began today in Saghbine. In response to a request by the town’s mayor, a coordination meeting was held between the Municipality of Saghbine and the Homat Al Hima International Center (HHIC), representing the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL).
The meeting focused on exploring the Hima approach—an ancient, community-driven system for the sustainable use and management of natural resources that SPNL has revived to meet modern environmental, social, and economic challenges. The HHIC team offered a comprehensive presentation on the concept, highlighting its relevance to today’s conservation needs and its potential impact on rural communities.
Central to the discussion were the key pillars of the Hima program: community engagement, environmental stewardship, and socio-economic empowerment. The team outlined how the Hima model could directly benefit the people of Saghbine through awareness-raising campaigns, hands-on environmental education, and capacity-building workshops tailored to farmers, shepherds, fishermen, and hunters. Special attention would be given to engaging women, youth, and students as agents of change in biodiversity protection and sustainable local development.
Inspired by the example of Kefraya, which officially joined the National Hima Network just a day earlier, the Mayor of Saghbine and municipal officials expressed strong interest in following suit. They welcomed the proposal with enthusiasm and agreed to begin the formal steps toward declaring Saghbine as a Hima site within the broader West Bekaa region.
This meeting reflects the growing momentum across Lebanon toward environmental responsibility and community-led conservation. With grassroots support and municipal leadership joining forces, the National Hima Network continues to expand—site by site—strengthening the country’s commitment to sustainability and ecological resilience.
