On June 7 and 8, 2018, a joint workshop between the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) and Al-Shouf Cedar Society (ACS) about biodiversity monitoring was held in the Park House in Maaser Al Shouf.
The main aim of the workshop was to discuss and agree on the scientific component of the M6 project pertaining to Result 1.1.1 ” Database of the Shouf Landscape biodiversity and ecocultural indicators is established and shared with relevant stakeholders”, by which the main constraints and options to undertake the biodiversity monitoring, guide the selection of indicators, and define monitoring protocols were thoroughly discussed in the presence of national experts on different taxonomic groups and two experts from the University of Insubria in Italy who have a long experience in monitoring biodiversity.
The national experts who participated in the workshop were:
– Dr. Effat Abou Fakhr Hammad (Insects expert)
– Dr. Mohammad Al Zein (Plants expert)
– Dr. Riad Sadek (Reptiles expert)
– Dr. Salwa Tohme Tawk (Ants expert)
– Mr. Hussein Zorkot (Butterflies expert)
Dr. Ghassan Jarradi (Ornithology expert) wasn’t able to join the workshop due to travel commitments, however, his work on SPNL land-use types/subtypes selection and bird indicators and monitoring protocol were presented by Ms. Jamal Hamzeh the M6 project coordinator at SPNL.
On day 1, the biodiversity monitoring component in M6 project was reintroduced and the experience of the University of Insubria in biodiversity monitoring linked to farming systems was introduced and discussed.
Furthermore, the preliminary work carried out by the national experts contracted by ACS and SPNL was presented and mainly the species inventories and habitat types. Also, the farmland types and subtypes where biodiversity monitoring will be carried out were identified and the selection of species and habitat indicators was agreed on and finalized.
On day 2, agriculture management indicators including genetic diversity were selected, and monitoring protocols for gathering data on the different taxonomic groups were discussed in details and agreed on.
Finally, a roadmap with different roles & responsibilities was set for the following months and next year.
