Three new breeding records for Lebanon

While working on an environmental micro-project funded by the Agence Francais de Developpement (AFD) and the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM), SPNL’s project manager Maher Osta with the help of our partner in Mansoura (West Beqaa) Izzat Taha, successfully documented a very exciting find:

Four species of wetland birds from the heron family were breeding successfully on a small artificial island thankfully constructed and protected by the municipality of Mansoura to be part of a public park where the people of the Mansoura village can enjoy time spent in nature.

Three of those species of herons were a first-time record breeders for Lebanon. The cattle egret, the squacco heron, and the little egret bred for the first time in Lebanon in this small piece of protected land and water, along with the night heron which had bred in other places of Lebanon before.

The record was confirmed and documented in Sandgrouse magazine by our leading ornithologist Dr Ghassan Jaradi.

Another solid proof that if we give our precious feathered friends a chance for peace, they will surprise us. And, that municipalities can do a great job in proving that nature and biodiversity can live And prosper in harmony with people.

Al Hima Magazine 5th Issue

This edition of Al Hima magazine weaves together inspiring stories of nature conservation and community resilience, highlighting how Lebanon is being stitched back to life—one Hima at a time. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) continues its mission to preserve the country’s natural heritage by empowering local communities. A cornerstone of this effort is the BioConnect project, funded by the European Union, which has achieved three national firsts: Lebanon’s first natural park (Upper Matn), first geological park (Shouf-Jezzine), and first endowment Hima (Btekhnay).

Read Previous issues

spot_img
spot_img

More like this

Lebanese Environment Forum Pushes for a Legal Framework for...

After years of active efforts to safeguard Lebanon’s environment, particularly its coastal and marine ecosystems, the Lebanese...

Nature’s Silent Guardians: Celebrating Vultures on International Vulture Awareness...

A Misunderstood Bird with a Vital Role They circle high above the savannas, deserts, and mountains, their silhouettes...
The Beirut River Valley stands out as both a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) and a Prime Butterfly Area (PBA) in Lebanon

2,900 Species Illustrated, 440 Recorded in Beirut Valley: Lebanon’s...

Lebanon’s Beirut Valley has once again revealed its secrets through the lens of biomonitoring. With every hike,...