Reforestation and afforestation efforts in Lebanon
A restoration success story
FAO/Michel Bassil
01/07/2024
Transforming Lebanon’s Mountain Terrains
Starting in 2016, Lebanon's rugged mountain terrains witnessed a transformative initiative aimed at restoring ecological balance and uplifting rural communities. The "Smart Adaptation of Forest Landscapes in Mountain Areas" (SALMA) project, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Lebanon in collaboration with the Lebanon's Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), is a beacon of sustainable forestry management and reforestation.
Rich Biodiversity Under Threat
Despite covering only 0.007 percent of the world's land surface, Lebanon hosts an impressive 0.8 percent of the world's recorded and catalogued species, showcasing remarkable biodiversity within a limited area. However, these rich forest ecosystems face significant threats from human activities and climate change.
Lebanese forests cover 13.2 percent of the country's total land area, equivalent to 136 900 hectares (figure 1). In addition, other wooded lands cover 10.2 percent of the land, bringing the total to 237 500 hectares, which constitutes 23.4 percent of Lebanon’s land area. This expanse includes forests, woodlands, and scrub.
Lebanese forests, remnants of ancient Mediterranean ecosystems, have been identified as threatened by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. These forests face tremendous pressures from wars, forest fires, unsustainable practices, demographic expansion, and urbanization. The National Report on Land Degradation Neutrality reported a loss of 0.7 percent of forested land between 2000 and 2010 and an additional 0.42 percent between 2010 and 2018.
Analyses reveal that 46 percent of faunal species in Lebanon are terrestrial. However, this biodiversity is under severe threat. Seven mammal species have already gone extinct, while 31 percent of the remaining mammals are classified as rare, 20 percent as vulnerable, and 7.5 percent as close to extinction.
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FAOLebanon/Hadi Abou Ayash
Recognizing these challenges, the Lebanese Government launched the National Afforestation and Reforestation Programme (NARP) in 2012, also known as the “40 Million Tree Program”, which aims to increase forest areas in Lebanon in order to restore Lebanon’s ecological integrity and green identity. The SALMA project was an important component of this broader effort.
Remarkable achievements of the SALMA project
The SALMA project, launched in December 2016 with a budget of USD 7.1 million funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and in cooperation with 10 NGOs, aimed to achieve climate resilience for vulnerable forest ecosystems and the rural mountain communities that depended on them. The project employed a comprehensive, multi-component strategy focusing on forest management and community involvement to enhance climate resilience.
Significant strides were made in cooperation with public bodies and NGOs. The project successfully reforested 674 hectares in 23 sites. Additionally, 14 Sustainable Forest Management plans were prepared at the forest level, and 3 plans at the regional level, covering a total of 1 230 hectares of forests. Furthermore, the project proposed a management plan for the Wady El Houjayr Nature Reserve. These plans, based on extensive surveys of forest resources, bird and insect populations, as well as fire risks, outlined sustainable usage, conservation, landscape restoration activities, and fire prevention. The three regional plans cover Akkar highlands, Keserwan District and Jezzine area.
According to Mr Khalil Harfouche, Head of the Union of Jezzine Municipalities, “Our pine forests represent a treasure for us. It’s a main income generator for the inhabitants as well as for the municipalities. For us, protecting the forests and maintaining them in good health is one of the most important tasks we must undertake, and the current project with FAO Lebanon falls under this perspective”.
FAOLebanon/Hadi Abou Ayash
To mitigate fire risks, the project installed five water reservoirs and fire networks in Keserwan, Karm Saddeh, and Ras El Maten. Integrated pest management practices were also implemented in the Jezzine area to address critical threats to forest health.
Empowering communities
The SALMA project emphasized community-driven and ecosystem-based adaptation strategies. By involving local municipalities and NGOs in participatory reforestation plans, the project ensured that interventions were tailored to the specific needs and vulnerabilities of the landscapes and communities. This inclusive approach not only enhanced the effectiveness of the interventions but also promoted sustainable forest management practices that were supported and maintained by the local communities.
In economically disadvantaged regions of Lebanon, such as the South, Akkar, Baalbeck, and Hermel areas, agriculture constitutes up to 80 percent of the local GDP. The project aimed to support and enhance the long-term livelihoods of disadvantaged rural communities. By improving agricultural productivity and diversifying crop mixes, the project stabilized and increased incomes from farming through access to reliable irrigation during the driest months of the year. The project also created working opportunities through forest management activities, agro-sylvo-pastoral practices, and non-wood forest products. In addition, training on Forest Based Jobs was provided to local communities in various locations across the country.
Afforestation and reforestation activities played a crucial role in protecting the physical assets of these communities, such as agricultural soils, irrigation and drainage networks, and roads. These activities also generated income from non-wood forest products, particularly benefitting women who were predominantly involved in these efforts. The shift in crop mix to more labour-intensive fruit and vegetable production also provided significant benefits for women, as this type of farming requires more labour than traditional rainfed cereal cultivation.
Moreover, many men sought seasonal construction work in nearby towns and cities, leaving women to take advantage of the increased income opportunities associated with high-value summer vegetable and fruit crops. The processing and preservation of fruits and vegetables added value and provided an expanded income source for the entire household, further enhancing economic stability and growth.
Al Shouf Cedar Society: Champions of the SALMA Project and Guardians of Lebanon's Forest Heritage
Under the SALMA project, 320 000 trees were planted in 26 locations all over the Lebanon in cooperation with 10 NGOs Among them, the Al Shouf Cedar Society (ACS) was honoured with the FAO Partnerships Award in 2023, standing as a champion of the SALMA Lebanon restoration project. ACS epitomizes the fusion of biodiversity protection and community empowerment. Since 1994, ACS has been committed to preserving the ecological and cultural heritage of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve. Their efforts in training young community members on advanced planting techniques and promoting sustainable forest management practices have played a pivotal role in enhancing the resilience of Lebanon's forest ecosystems and improving the livelihoods of local communities.
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