Dear colleagues at the Ministry of Environment, the Lebanese Environment Forum, and the Palm Islands Nature Reserve Committee, In response to what was published under the title “Guardians of the Coast: Lebanon’s Seabirds in Peril and Hope” Guardians of the Coast: Lebanon’s Seabirds in Peril and Hope and at the request of the Palm Islands […]
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On a calm spring morning off the coast of Tripoli, the waves crash gently against three flat, rocky islands—Palm, Ramkin, and Sanani. To the untrained eye, these are just specks of limestone in the Mediterranean. But for ornithologists and conservationists, the Palm Islands Nature Reserve is a living archive of Lebanon’s seabird heritage. Once known […]
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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 […]
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More than 65 participants, including university students, environmental activists, NGO representatives, and members of Lebanon’s fishing, diving, and seabirding clubs, gathered at MUBS University in Badaro for a citizen science training workshop that introduced the BAHR Platform, Lebanon’s first citizen-based initiative for monitoring marine biodiversity. BAHR is developed under the project: “Conducting an evidence-based national […]
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A Timeless Landscape of Sea, Salt, and Spirit 📍 Location: Deir al-Natour Promontory, Anfeh – Kurah District, North Lebanon🔎 Category: Cultural & Natural Heritage | Tentative UNESCO World Heritage Site🗓️ Tentative List Submission: 11 July 2019📌 UNESCO Criteria: (iii) Cultural tradition | (v) Human interaction with the environment Why Visit? Welcome to Deir al-Natour, the […]
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As the 3rd UN Ocean Conference concludes in Nice, the world edges closer to a major leap in ocean governance. With 19 new ratifications deposited during the conference, the number of countries formally endorsing the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ Agreement) has reached 50. Only 10 more ratifications are needed to trigger its entry into force […]
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Where the golden sands meet the turquoise tides, the Tyre Coast Nature Reserve (TCNR) stands as a testament to Lebanon’s rich ecological and cultural legacy. Now, a bold new chapter is unfolding with the release of the Assessment-Diagnosis Report — the foundational phase of an updated management plan aimed at safeguarding the reserve’s delicate balance […]
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Along the shimmering coast of southern Lebanon lies a natural haven teeming with underwater life, historic legacies, and rare marine habitats. The Tyre Coast Nature Reserve (TCNR), already celebrated as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance and a SPAMI (Specially Protected Area of Mediterranean Importance), has recently been the focus of an ambitious ecological study […]
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Once teetering on the brink of extinction, the Mediterranean monk seal is making a cautious return to its native shores. Recognizable by their large, soulful eyes and soft expressions, these clever marine mammals have long had a fraught relationship with humans—particularly fishers. Their habit of stealing fish from nets and damaging gear has led to […]
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Silent Invaders: How Alien Species Are Accelerating Global Extinctions and Economic Losses In the delicate balance of ecosystems across the globe, a quiet but powerful threat is accelerating species extinction, disrupting livelihoods, and exacting a staggering economic toll. Invasive alien species—organisms introduced by humans to regions beyond their natural ranges—are now considered the second leading […]
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