.:: Overview | Environmental Impacts                                                                                          عـربي 

Lebanon is dappled with over 1000 quarries established with little consideration to the surrounding environment and settlements, thus causing:

1. Destruction of vegetation and natural habitats;
2. Permanent loss to biodiversity and natural resources;
3. Noise, visual and air pollution;
4. Pollution of groundwater and surface water resources;
5. Severe impacts on roads network;
6. Negative impact on soil stability; and
7. Loss of property value
   

In fact, the study of The Cost of Environmental Degredation in Lebanon (World Bank, 2004) estimates that quarries annually reduce land values by 16 - 71% and apartments values by 16 - 45%§§ .

This is an equivalent of 0.1% of our national GDP or in monetary terms 14 to 16 millions $US per year. If these quarries are not rehabilitated, their negative environmental and socio-economic impacts, in addition to their impact on the public health will linger.