Nature lovers in Lebanon can look forward to the opening of Hammana’s “Le parc Air France”; an ecological initiative by SPNL, AIR FRANCE-KLM, and HAMMANA Municipality and a formidable lesson of hope, in the actual of context of Lebanon.
On the 14th of October, in the heart of Hammana, we witnessed the soft opening of Le Parc Air France-KLM, culmination point of collaborative work between 3 entities: SPNL, Hammana Municipality and Air France-KLM Group.
This gesture of hope is born out of the passion of heroes battling for nature. Together, Assad Serhal and André Béchara for SPNL, Fadi Slaiby representing Hammana and Matthieu Tétaud, General Manager Air France-KLM for the Near East made, the first Parc Air France in the Middle East, come to life. After the terrible events that occurred in Lebanon last August, this is “a gesture of faith in the future, an act of resistance” as M. Bechara mentioned in his speech.
This ecological gesture could take place because Air France-KLM Group plays an active role in fighting climate change and has set itself the aim of reducing CO2 emissions. SPNL, on the other hand, is committed to “stop nature’s bankruptcy”, as stated by M. Serhal, by preserving nature through the creation of protected areas: the HIMA. As for Hammana municipality and its Mayor, M. Fadi Slaiby as well as his predecessor, M. Bachir Farhat; it has been their duty to protect and conserve its natural heritage, and ensure a clean, safe, and sustainable environment for present and future generations. So, it was a natural step to combine all efforts and passions to open Le parc Air France-KLM in Hammana, a public area to be enjoyed by the community and which will welcome a number of new trees as part of Air France-KLM reforestation program.
Trees can play a significant role in stopping dangerous climate change: when growing, they help absorb and store the carbon dioxide emissions that are driving global heating.
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About SPNL and Hima Hammana
For 40 years, SPNL has worked to protect nature. For SPNL, the most important way of protecting nature is by preserving natural areas; which means protecting animal and plant species, the landscape and our opportunities for enjoying this very nature. By reviving the concept of HIMA – dating back at least to the sixth century-, SPNL created a new generation of protected areas that aims to bring benefits for people as well as support the preservation of biodiversity. Hima Hammana, with its unique Bird Observatory – officially recognized by BIRDLIFE International- is one of the 25 Himas existing in Lebanon and implanted by SPNL. It could exist not only through the passionate efforts of our NGO, but it happened with the will and means of the Mayors of this beautiful village nested in Lebanon’s mountains.
