:: Quarries in Lebanon | Environmental Impacts 

Lebanon is dappled with over 1000 quarries exploited with little consideration to the surrounding environment and its inhabitants thus causing:

1. Destruction of vegetation and important 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 conducted by The World Bank in 2004 "The Cost of Environmental Degredation in Lebanon"estimated that quarries can annually reduce surrounding

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-economical impacts, in addition to their impact on the public health, will linger.