The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) has officially launched the geospatial map of Hima Kornayel, marking a new milestone in its efforts to advance community-based conservation supported by modern geographic and environmental data.
HIMA_KERNAYEL_SPNL_2025Prepared by SPNL’s GIS and Remote Sensing Division, the map defines the official boundaries of the Hima and its municipal land parcels encompassing a total area of 850,000 m².
Hima Kornayel encompasses the publicly-owned lands of the Kornayel Municipality, including its signature forest known as “Al-Qatin”, the Kornayel lake system and adjacent woodland and wetlands. The newly released map delineates the Hima boundary in green, and the municipality’s border in red, offering at a glance the ecological footprint of this protected community zone.
By launching this official map, SPNL aims to bridge that gap — affording local stakeholders the visibility, the tools and the sense of ownership needed to safeguard their forests and lakes.
Why This Matters
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Biodiversity + Ecosystem Services: The area holds a network of natural ponds, woodland and freshwater habitats that serve as vital ecological corridors for birds, mammals and plants.
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Local Livelihoods + Cultural Identity: The forest, lake and trails are part of everyday life for neighbouring villages such as Falougha, Jouar el Haouz and Kfar Selouane — making this Hima not just a conservation zone but a living heritage-space.
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Governance + Transparency: The clear mapping offers all actors — municipal officials, residents, environmental practitioners — a shared baseline. It becomes the common language upon which decisions, monitoring and public reporting can stand.
Kornayel is home to one of Lebanon’s richest Pinus pinea (stone pine) forests, which not only form part of the country’s natural heritage but also represent an essential ecological and economic resource for the community. The town’s forests contribute an impressive 18% of Mount Lebanon’s total pine coverage, offering critical habitat for countless plant and animal species, while supporting traditional livelihoods through pine nut harvesting.
On 15 June 2025, the town officially declared the creation of Hima Kornayel as a community-based conservation area, becoming part of the broader “Higher Matn Natural Park” initiative — a regional vision to unify natural heritage protection under sustainable management.
On 03 October 2025, the village of Saghbine has become home to the country’s 39th Hima. This milestone, proudly announced by SPNL reaffirms Lebanon’s leadership in reviving traditional models of coexistence between people and nature.
