Together for Lebanon’s First Natural Park

He who attains high ranks bears no grudge,
And one whose nature is anger shall never reach glory.
I once tended their camels in days gone by,
But today I defend their land whenever calamity strikes.

— ʿAntarah ibn Shaddād (525–608 CE), a noble Najdi Arab knight and one of the famed pre-Islamic Muʿallaqāt poets.

By Assad Serhal  (Al Hima Magazine 5th Edition) 

Today, I write with a profound sense of hope and purpose as we turn a historic page in Lebanon’s environmental journey. The charter signed between the Ministry of Environment and our coalition—comprising our national and international partners—is more than just an agreement. It is a declaration of intent: to protect, restore, and reimagine our relationship with Lebanon’s natural heritage.

For the first time, we stand on the threshold of a dream we have long pursued: the establishment of Lebanon’s first Natural Park.

As outlined in the Protected Areas Law, Lebanon recognizes four categories of protected areas:

• Nature Reserves

• Hima—our ancestral, community-led model for conservation

• Natural Parks—the focus of our current mission

• Natural Landmarks or Sites

Among these, Natural Parks remain the only category that has not been implemented—until now.

The charter we have signed represents not only a commitment to the environment but also a promise to Lebanon’s future generations. It is a starting point toward establishing parks that unite people and nature—spaces that balance environmental protection with sustainable development, traditional knowledge, and community engagement.

The task ahead is ambitious. To formalize the designation of the Natural Park, we need implementing decrees and legal approvals—first from the Ministry of Interior, and ultimately from the Council of Ministers. Yet under your leadership, Minister Dr. Nasser Yassin, and with the collective will of our partners and civil society, we believe this goal is within reach this very year.

We at the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL)—in alliance with BirdLife International, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation (HWF), the Sigrid Rausing Trust (SRT), and the Hima Fund, alongside local partners such as the Shouf Biosphere Reserve team, the Shouf Cedar Society, the Rural Capacities Development Association, the Society for Community and Environment, the Lebanese Environment Forum, the Matn Higher Association for Environment and Development, the Municipality of Ras el-Metn, and 34 other municipalities where Himas have been established—representing communities working to preserve Lebanon’s natural and cultural treasures—we have committed ourselves fully. We pledge to support this initiative technically, politically, and publicly.

Our unified efforts can bring Lebanon international recognition and contribute meaningfully to the Global Biodiversity Target 30×30: protecting 30% of land and marine areas by 2030.

This is not merely about creating a new park—it is about establishing a new model of environmental governance for the Middle East: one rooted in decentralization, community stewardship, cultural values, and resilience.

We ask Minister Dr. Tamara El-Zein to carry the torch of this pioneering initiative—so it becomes a legacy that inspires generations, restores Lebanon’s image on the global stage, and highlights the power of cross-sectoral and cross-border collaboration.

Let us be the generation that didn’t just dream,
but made the dream real.

Together for Lebanon’s first Natural Park.

We hope you enjoy reading the Magazine

What Is the Hima?

The Hima is a traditional system of resource tenure that has been practised for more than 1400 years in the Arabian Peninsula. It is the most widespread and longstanding indigenous/traditional conservation institution in the Middle East, and perhaps on Earth! The Arabic word “hima” literally means “a protected area”. In pre-Islamic times, access to this place was declared forbidden by the individual or group who owned it. Later its meaning evolved to signify a rangeland reserve, a piece of land set aside seasonally to allow regeneration.

Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL)
Administrative Board

• President: Afaf Osseiran

• Director General: Assad Serhal

• Treasurer: Aliya Nasser

• Secretary: Khaled Saidi

• Members: Shawki Saidi, Ibrahim Saidi, Leen Kerbaj

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) is one of the oldest environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Lebanon. Founded in 1983 and officially licensed by the Ministry of Interior (Decision No. 6/AD dated 8 January 1986), SPNL serves as the national partner of BirdLife International and is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

SPNL has been a leading voice in advocating for the creation of protected areas across Lebanon, working in close collaboration with relevant governmental institutions. In recent years, the Society has focused its mission on reviving the Hima approach, an ancient community-based conservation system that has existed in the Arab region for over 1,500 years. This approach emphasizes local stewardship of natural resources and biodiversity, blending traditional knowledge with modern science and policy tools.

To date, SPNL has successfully established 34 Himas across Lebanon, in partnership with municipalities and local communities.