- Commitment of participants to support the Marine Protected Areas Network project in Lebanon.
- Concerns about the damages caused by the recent war on the marine protected areas, specifically the Tyre and Abbassiyeh reserves.
- Affirmation of the project’s goal to establish an effective network of marine protected areas covering at least 30% of Lebanon’s exclusive economic zone by 2030.
The Lebanese Environment Forum (LEF) organized a seminar and traveling exhibition on marine protected areas at the Automobile and Touring Club of Lebanon (ATCL) Jounieh, under the patronage of the Municipality of Jounieh, to raise awareness, support, and advocate for the “Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Network.” The project is funded by European Union in Lebanon and implemented jointly by LEF and the University of Balamand, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Environment.
Assad Serhal, Director General of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), Co-founder and former President of the Lebanese Environment Forum (LEF), and Fadi Ghanem, Chairman of the National Committee of the IUCN, were both in attendance at the event.
Serhal underscored the importance of building a robust network of marine protected areas to safeguard biodiversity and promote sustainable development along Lebanon’s coast.
The seminar was inaugurated by the President of the Assembly, Engineer Malek Ghaddour, who welcomed the attendees and emphasized the importance of the Marine Protected Areas project, which aims to establish an effective network of marine protected areas covering at least 30% of Lebanon’s exclusive economic zone by 2030. He stressed that creating this network is essential for the sustainable management of marine resources, which would benefit local coastal communities in the long term.
Ghaddour also highlighted the new “Don’t Throw into the Sea” campaign, which aims to combat attempts to dump debris from the Israeli aggression into the sea, emphasizing the need for more sustainable solutions such as recycling for construction purposes and other uses, and avoiding beach infill due to its harmful impact on marine ecosystems.
The President of ATCL Jounieh, Mr. Elie Kassaf, spoke about the importance of this cooperation between the club, the Lebanese Environment Assembly, and the Municipality of Jounieh, which sponsored the exhibition. He stressed that this collaboration represents a genuine commitment by all parties to contribute to keeping the sea clean and improving water quality, calling for Jounieh Bay to become a model for other coastal cities and towns to follow.
Then, Project Manager Rebecca Bissari gave a detailed presentation on the project’s key achievements and the challenges it faces, as well as the future objectives the project aims to achieve.
Dr. Milad Fakhry from the Marine Sciences Center also presented on the center’s goals and activities, highlighting the importance of scientific and technical research in advancing marine environmental projects.
Following that, Jean Abou Rajeli gave a presentation on the activities of the “Ocean Diaries” association and ongoing efforts to protect marine environments, shedding light on the critical role of NGOs in safeguarding Lebanon’s coastal ecosystems.
Dr. Sanaa Abou Deeb, Director of the Green Community Association, gave a presentation on the association’s efforts to achieve “zero waste,” reiterating its commitment to preserving and protecting marine wealth.
Stacey Matran then gave a presentation on the work and activities of the “Friends of Nature” association, which focuses on raising environmental awareness and promoting collective action in environmental conservation.
At the end of the seminar, a fruitful discussion took place among the participants on ways to enhance cooperation between environmental organizations, as well as the means by which the Marine Protected Areas project could be implemented in different regions of Lebanon.
The participants also discussed the negative impacts of the recent war on the marine environment in general, particularly on marine protected areas like Tyre and Abbassiyeh. In her intervention, Mrs. Lara Samaha, Head of the Ecosystem Division at the Ministry of Environment, noted that the ministry is exploring the necessary steps to address the damages to the marine reserves.
In a gesture of appreciation, the Lebanese Environment Assembly presented an honorary shield to the President of ATCL Jounieh in recognition of his continuous support and dedication to achieving the goals of the Marine Protected Areas Network project in Lebanon. The participants signed a petition in support of the Marine Protected Areas Network.
