Lebanese Environment Forum Pushes for a Legal Framework for Marine Protected Areas Network in Lebanon

After years of active efforts to safeguard Lebanon’s environment, particularly its coastal and marine ecosystems, the Lebanese Environment Forum (LEF), in partnership with the University of Balamand and with the support of the European Union, convened a four-hour participatory consultation workshop today at the UNESCO Regional Office in Beirut.

The workshop brought together representatives from international, parliamentary, governmental, academic, military, security, municipal, and civil society bodies to discuss Lebanon’s current legal framework for coastal management, with a focus on existing gaps and challenges. A draft legal framework for the establishment and management of a Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Network in Lebanon was presented and discussed in depth.

Key Participants

The consultation was attended by:

• Mr. Cyril Duvalin, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Lebanon

• MP Ayoub Hmayed, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Tourism

• MP Najat Saliba, Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment

• Mr. Assad Serhal, Chairman of BirdLife International / Middle East Partnership

• Representatives of the Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, Public Works, Information, and Defense

• Commander of the Lebanese Navy

• Representatives of the Internal Security Forces, including the Commanders of the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Coastal Units

• Academic institutions: University of Balamand, American University of Beirut (AUB), American University of Technology (AUT), Modern University for Business and Science (MUBS)

• The National Council for Scientific Research – National Centre for Marine Sciences

Workshop Outcomes

The sessions were moderated by Engineer Malek Ghandour, President of the Lebanese Environment Forum, while Attorney Shukri Haddad, legal advisor, presented the draft framework. The rich and constructive discussions resulted in a series of valuable recommendations, which will be integrated into the final draft before its submission to the Ministry of Environment for review, administrative follow-up, and decision-making procedures.

Acknowledgment

The LEF expressed its gratitude to all partners and participants, with special recognition to Brigadier General Dr. Hassan Bechrouch, Coordinator of the MPA Stakeholders Forum, for his dedicated behind-the-scenes efforts in advancing this national initiative.