| Click to download the full strategy report |
|
Executive Summary
Lebanon, like most developing countries, has adopted and signed most international conventions. To meet its obligations to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and fulfill the requirements of Articles 6 and 26, the government of Lebanon has requested financial and technical assistance from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)/Global Environment Facility (GEF). Article 6 calls for developing national strategies and action plans to conserve, study, and sustainably use biological diversity. Article 26, requires contracting parties (national governments) to submit reports on measures taken to implement provisions of the convention, and on their effectiveness to meet its objectives, to the Conference of Parties (CoP). This activity is funded by GEF and executed by UNDP (LEB /97 / G 31/ A / 1G /99). The main elements of the project included the establishment of a multi-sectorial National Steering Committee, the assessment of biodiversity based on existing knowledge, and the identification and analysis of options through extensive dialogue and consultation. The elaboration of a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, and the preparation and dissemination of a First National Report and submission of report to CoP are also required. As a host to old civilisations, Lebanon experienced lots of use and sometimes over-use of its natural resources. The Cedars used to cover all high mountains, whereas their existence is presently restricted to few spots. The decrease in natural vegetation and animal wealth is noticeable and may be alarming. At the time of Ottomans, nationals were considered citizens if they had trees around their houses. The absence of trees meant, at the time, a kind of nomadism, resulting in lower taxation and fewer duties towards the Sultan. Taxation on land used to be the practice, and many people gave their land to religious organisations that were tax exempt. Cedars, oaks, and other trees, as well as some animals and fish were, and still are, considered as natural heritage. Appreciative values are common within Lebanese sociological expressions. In the sixties, houses with red-tiled roofs were highly appreciated in high, mountainous areas, and were exempted of municipal, and sometimes, state taxes. The town of Beit-Chabab was almost entirely exempted from such taxes, being very popular for tiled roofs. Some local municipalities even give money rewards to people growing certain types of trees in their house gardens. Farmers growing tobacco, sugar beet and wheat receive sizeable subsides as incentives to remain on their land and make best use of agricultural resources. Reward and punishment are becoming a norm in policy making. A National Steering Committee representing a large number of institutions with direct or indirect interest in biological diversity was established under the authority of The Ministry of Environment. Four faculties of agriculture and four faculties of science represented the education system, while two umbrella unions represented Non-Government Organisations (NGO’s). Representation from public institutions included the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), The Agricultural Research Institute (ARI), The Green Plan and The Urban Office. The Ministries of Information, Municipalities, Commerce, Transport, Hydro-Electric Resources, and Agriculture, were also represented. Over a thousand individuals, members of clubs, schools, teachers, NGO’s, public and private institutions, scientists, administrators and international organisations were contacted. Contracts were also made with IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) to provide technical backstopping, and fourteen national consultants to draft reports on biodiversity in terrestrial, marine, fresh water and agricultural habitats. Legal advisors and socio-economic inputs were also contracted. Activities promoting public awareness were numerous and continuous. A project website was established within The Ministry of Environment (net:http//www.moe.gov.lb), and background infoBiodiversity planning was prepared by IUCN. A T. V. spot expressing the importance of plants and animals was shown on the local T. V. stations, and a poster representing the cycle of life with Arabic and English sub-titles was prepared (2000 copies). A pamphlet covering information on three plants and three animals was distributed to over 800 individuals who participated in various activities. Caps, pads, and folders carrying biodiversity identifications were distributed to participants in workshops that were held as follows:
The Proceedings of the First National Workshop (110 English copies) and Provincial Workshops (400 Arabic copies) were disseminated to participants and interested individuals and institutions. The major outcome of the process is the present strategy, which aims at satisfying the identified objectives. The objectives and action plan focus on conservation, sustainable use, and benefit sharing. Protecting biodiversity through forest and range management with the expansion and management of protected areas are the main objectives at the terrestrial ecosystem level. In aquaculture, the activities are directed towards saving, using, and studying freshwater biodiversity. In the marine ecosystem, protection of the coast, and using resources sustainably were major considerations. Agrobiodiversity had four objectives: 1) protect the ecosystem and maintain native biodiversity, 2) adopt agricultural practices that minimise loss in genetic diversity, 3) establish a national database for documentation and monitoring, and 4) develop partnership with local communities. Other objectives related to management, conservation and partnership included:
Table of Contents Foreword Executive Summary National Biodiversity Strategy Page
I - Convention of Biodiversity 1 II - Status of Biodiversity in Lebanon 3 III - Current Capacities for Biodiversity Management 6 IV - Purpose 9 V - Guiding Principles 10 VI - Management and Conservation of Biodiversity 11
VII - General Socio-economic Information 49 VIII - Rough Cost Estimate (tables) 51 References 57 Contributors 59 |
| Click to download the full stategy report |
