The National Campaign for the Establishment of an MPA Network successfully hosted its National Conference on Marine Protection on February 25, 2025, at the MEA Training Center. This pivotal event underscored the urgent need for Lebanon to establish a Marine Protected Area (MPA) Network that will protect its rich marine biodiversity, safeguard marine resources, and contribute to the long-term health of its coastal ecosystems.
The conference brought together Lebanese environmental organizations, scientific institutions, and local communities who share a common goal: the rapid establishment of a connected MPA network that will cover at least 30% of Lebanon’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) by 2030. This ambitious target is part of the broader National MPA Network Strategy developed by the Ministry of Environment in 2012, which lays out the steps for Lebanon to develop an MPA network to ensure long-term conservation and the sustainable use of its marine resources.
The conference’s key messages highlighted the urgent need for the immediate implementation of this strategy and the creation of effective management and resourcing for both existing and future MPAs. As part of the discussions, speakers and panelists emphasized the importance of halting harmful activities such as pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction that continue to damage Lebanon’s marine ecosystems.
Key Demands and Highlights:
- Working to approve the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Law and the Marine Fishing Law. These essential laws are crucial for protecting Lebanon’s coastal and marine ecosystems, promoting sustainable resource management, and enhancing climate resilience. Through advocacy, collaboration, and action, the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) network advocacy campaign will mobilize all efforts to prioritize and secure the passage of these laws for the benefit of Lebanon’s environment and economy.
- Working to approve new coastal protected areas in collaboration with local municipalities, as outlined in the National Strategy for Marine Protected Areas by the Ministry of Environment in 2012, to ensure the protection of the marine environment and enhance biodiversity in coastal areas.
- Declaring the protection of deep-sea areas and establishing a unified management network to manage and protect them, ensuring the sustainability of deep-sea environments and protecting them from harmful activities, which contributes to preserving marine biodiversity and enhancing environmental sustainability to achieve the goal of protecting 30% of our seas.
- Demanding the immediate approval of the law for the establishment of protected areas in Anfeh and Byblos, crucial regions for Lebanon’s environmental heritage and biodiversity. These areas are vital to the preservation of Lebanon’s marine and coastal ecosystems, promoting biodiversity conservation, and enhancing sustainable development.
In addition to these calls for action, the conference featured three in-depth panel discussions:
- Panel 1: MPAs in Lebanon – Challenges, Achievements, and Opportunities addressed the current status of MPAs, the lessons learned from existing reserves like Palm Island Nature Reserve and Tyr Nature Reserve, and the challenges Lebanon faces in expanding its MPA network.
- Panel 2: Beach Tourism and Marine Conservation explored the intersection between tourism, conservation, and the benefits of MPAs in areas like coastal Himas, emphasizing sustainable practices and the role of local communities.
- Panel 3: Sustainable Fishing and Biodiversity Conservation focused on sustainable fishing practices and how these can be integrated into the MPA network to ensure long-term ecological and economic benefits for Lebanon’s coastal populations.
The conference provided a platform for key stakeholders—including representatives from Operation Big Blue, SPNL (Coastal Himas), IndyACT, and Friends of Nature—to discuss the future of Lebanon’s marine conservation efforts and collaborate on strategies to halt destructive human activities in Lebanon’s marine environment.
About the National Campaign for the Establishment of an MPA Network:
Protected Areas Network in Lebanon” is a project implemented by the Lebanese Environment Forum (LEF) in partnership with the University of Balamand, and funded by the European Union. It aims for establishing an effective MPAs network in Lebanon’s for the protection of Lebanon’s coastal and marine biodiversity and ecosystems through a national non-state actors advocacy campaign supported by science-based evidence.
As Lebanon’s marine ecosystems continue to face significant threats from human activities, the National Campaign is calling for urgent and sustained action from the Lebanese government, private sector, and civil society to protect these critical resources and work towards a sustainable future for Lebanon’s oceans.
