Walking for Our Cultural and Archaeological Heritage

LEBANON MOUNTAIN TRAIL

SOCIETYThe Magazine of the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association

No. 4 October 2015 - Free Distribution

Walking for our Cultural and Archaeological Heritage

Environmental Championship Program

MEET OUR AMBASSADORS ABROAD

Geological Trail in Jezzine

+961 5 955 302 [email protected] www.lebanontrail.org Contribute Now. You can make a difference! The Lebanon Mountain Trail About the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association

Andqet QEloubaiyat 0 Tashea 1

Tripoli Qemmamine 2 رؤﻳﺘﻨﺎ Kfar Bbnine Our vision Notre vision Bqaa Safrine 3 Side Trail: The Lebanon Mountain Trail Le sentier du LMT devient une أن ﻳﺼﺒﺢ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ وﺟﻬﺔ Hadath ej-Jebbe 5 4 becomes a world-class destination destination mondiale de loisirs en ﻋﺎﻟﻤﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﺴﻴﺎﺣﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻬﻮاء اﻟﻄﻠﻖ .Ehden Side Trail: for outdoor and responsible plein air et de tourisme durable Side Trail: وﻟﻠﺴﻴﺎﺣﺔ اﻟﻤﺴﺆوﻟﺔ. أن ﻳﺘﻤﺘّ ﻊ Douma tourism. Le sentier est protégé par le Ehmej Ouadi Qannoubine 6 اﻟﺪرب ﺑﺎﻟﺤﻤﺎﻳﺔ ﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻞ اﻟﺪوﻟﺔ The trail is protected by the gouvernement libanais, les 7 اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﺔ ّواﻟﺒﻠﺪﻳﺎت واﻟﻤﺠﺘﻤﻌﺎت Hasroun Bcharre Side Trail: Government of Lebanon, municipalités et les communautés ّاﻟﻤﺤﻠﻴﺔ، وأن ﻳﻌﺘﺮف ﺑﻪ ﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻞ Tannourine 9 8 Jabal Moussa Municipalities, and local locales, et est reconnu par les اﻟﻤﻨﻈﻤﺎت اﻟﺪوﻟﻴﺔ. .el-Fawqa communities, and is recognized by organisations internationales 10 international organizations. Jbail Aaqoura Afqa 11

Hrajel 12 Baalbek Side Trail: 13 Kfar Baskinta Literary Trail أﻫﺪاﻓﻨﺎ Our purpose Nos buts 14 Aaqab Side Trail: Beirut 15 Baskinta El Mtain Knaysse • To maintain, protect and develop • Maintenir, protéger et développer • اﻟﺤﻔﺎظ ﻋﻠﻰ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ le LMT et ses sentiers parallèles 16 واﻟﺪروب اﻟﻤﺘﻔﺮﻋﺔ وﺻﻮﻧﻬﺎ the LMT and its side trails Falougha • To promote the LMT as a (de branchements) وﺗﻄﻮﻳﺮﻫﺎ Promouvoir le LMT comme une • Zahle destination for rural tourism and • ﺗﻌﺰﻳﺰ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ wellness destination de tourisme rural et de 17 Ain Zhalta ﻛﻤﻨﺘﺞ ﺳﻴﺎﺣﻲ رﻳﻔﻲ To conserve natural resources and bien-être • • اﻟﺤﻔﺎظ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻤﻮارد اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ Préserver les ressources naturelles • Side Trail: El Barouk 18 protect the cultural heritage on وﺣﻤﺎﻳﺔ اﻹرث اﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﺘﺎﺧﻤﺔ the LMT et protéger le patrimoine culturel sur Bkassine Maaser ﻟﺪرب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ To advance economic le LMT • 19 ech-Chouf • Renforcer les opportunités • ﺗﻌﺰﻳﺰ اﻟﻔﺮص اﻹﻗﺘﺼﺎدﻳﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ opportunities on the LMT Niha 20 through responsible tourism économiques sur le LMT en درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼل Saida favorisant un tourisme durable اﻟﺴﻴﺎﺣﺔ اﻟﻤﺴﺆوﻟﺔ Aaitanit • To encourage behavior change 21 through targeted education and • Inciter à un changement de • ّاﻟﺤﺚ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺗﻐﻴﻴﺮ اﻟﺴﻠﻮﻛﻴﺎت ﻣﻦ Jezzine Kawkaba Bou Arab 22 outreach comportement en développant des ﺧﻼل ﻧﺸﺎﻃﺎت ﺗﺮﺑﻮﻳﺔ وﺗﻮﻋﻮﻳﺔ programmes d’éducation ciblés et de 24 23 Rachaiya sensibilisation du public 25

26 Marjaayoun Hasbaiya

ﻗﻴﻤﻨﺎ Sour Our values Nos valeurs • اﻻﻟﺘﺰام • اﻟﺘﻨﻮع • اﻟﻀﻴﺎﻓﺔ • اﻟﻨﺰاﻫﺔ • اﻟﻌﻤﻞ اﻟﺠﻤﺎﻋﻲ Commitment • Diversity • Engagement • Diversité • Hospitalité • • اﻟﺘﻄﻮع Hospitality • Integrity • Teamwork • Intégrité • Travail d’équipe • • Voluntarism • Bénévolat President’s message

Dear friends,

Here we are again, busy with diverse programs and activities!

As hiking continues to grow in popularity, hundreds of hikers from more than a dozen countries joined our annual Fall Trek in October 2014 and our annual Thru-Walk in April 2015.

We are still working with schools and educators on extracurricular activities to sensitize and educate children and youth on the LMT اﻷﺻﺪﻗﺎء اﻷﻋﺰاء، and the environmental and cultural wealth along it.

ﻫﺎ ﻧﺤﻦ ّﻣﺮة أﺧﺮى ﻣﻨﺸﻐﻠﻮن ﺑﻤﺸﺎرﻳﻊ وﻧﺸﺎﻃﺎت ّﻣﺘﻨﻮﻋﺔ. We continue to train local guides, and help refurbish and equip local guesthouses, and support local people to improve their hospitality. إن اﻟﻤﺸﻲ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﺔ (hiking) ﻳﺰداد ّﺷﻌﺒﻴﺔ، وﻗﺪ ﺷﺎرك اﻟﻤﺌﺎت ﻣﻦ ّﻋﺸﺎق ﻫﺬا اﻟﻨﺸﺎط ﻣﻦ أﻛﺜﺮ ﻣﻦ اﺛﻨﻲ ﻋﺸﺮ ًﺑﻠﺪا ﻓﻲ رﺣﻠﺔ اﻟﺨﺮﻳﻒ This year’s theme to safeguard our Cultural and Archaeological ّاﻟﺴﻨﻮﻳﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺗﺸﺮﻳﻦ ّاﻷول ٢٠١٤، وﻓﻲ رﺣﻠﺔ اﻟﻤﺸﻲ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻛﺎﻣﻞ legacy, has helped us highlight “our mountain’s” heritage and اﻟﺪرب ( Thru-Walk) ﻓﻲ ﻧﻴﺴﺎن ٢٠١٥. culture, and our efforts are focusing on a selection of endangered heritage and cultural sites along the trail. وﻧﺤﻦ ﻧﺘﺎﺑﻊ اﻟﻌﻤﻞ ﻣﻊ ﻋﺪة ﻣﺪارس وﻣﺮﺑﻴﻦ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻧﺸﺎﻃﺎت ّاﻟﻼﺻﻔﻴﺔ ّ ّ ّ We also continue to work on trail clearing and blazing, and on ﻟﺘﺜﻘﻴﻒ اﻷوﻻد واﻟﺸﺒﺎب، وﺟﻌﻠِ ﻬﻢ أﻛﺜﺮ ًوﻋﻴﺎ ّﻷﻫﻤﻴﺔ اﻟﺒﻴﺌﺔ setting up side trails with local communities and friendship trails و«درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ» واﻟﻐﻨﻰ ّاﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻲ اﻟﺬي ﻳﺤﻴﻂ ﺑﻪ. .with trail organizations from around the world

ﻛﻤﺎ ﻧﺘﺎﺑﻊ اﻟﻌﻤﻞ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺗﺪرﻳﺐ اﻟﻤﺮﺷﺪﻳﻦ ّاﻟﻤﺤﻠﻴﻴﻦ، وﻧﺴﺎﻫﻢ ﻓﻲ !And there is still a lot more to do ﺗﺠﺪﻳﺪ وﺗﺠﻬﻴﺰ ﺑﻴﻮت اﻟﻀﻴﺎﻓﺔ ّاﻟﻤﺤﻠﻴﺔ، وﻧﺪﻋﻢ اﻟﻤﻀﻴﻔﻴﻦ ﻓﻲ ﺗﻄﻮﻳﺮ ﻗﺪرات اﻻﺳﺘﻀﺎﻓﺔ ﻟﺪﻳﻬﻢ. Unfortunately, all these projects will have no raison d’être if the trail disappears! وﻗﺪ ﺳﺎﻋﺪت ﻣﺸﺎرﻳﻊ اﻟﺴﻨﺔ اﻟﺤﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻹﺿﺎءة ﻋﻠﻰ ﺗﺮاث ﺟﺒﺎﻟﻨﺎ Only 19% of the LMT is located in protected areas and nature وﺛﻘﺎﻓﺘﻬﺎ ﺣﻴﺚ ﺗﻨﺼﺐ ﺟﻬﻮدﻧﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻋﺪد ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﻮاﻗﻊ اﻟﺘﺮاﺛﻴﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ّ ّ reserves whereas the remaining parts of the trail are threatened by اﻟﺪرب ّواﻟﻤﻬﺪدة ﺑﺎﻟﺰوال. .the many environmental infringements New housing developments, road projects, quarries, waste and وﻧﺘﺎﺑﻊ اﻟﻌﻤﻞ ﻋﻠﻰ رﺳﻢ وﺗﻨﻈﻴﻒ اﻟﺪرب، وﻋﻠﻰ إﻗﺎﻣﺔ ﻣﺴﺎرات dumpsites are inching closer to the trail and threatening its ّﺟﺎﻧﺒﻴﺔ ﻣﻊ اﻟﻤﺠﻤﻮﻋﺎت ّاﻟﻤﺤﻠﻴﺔ، وﻋﻠﻰ ﺑﻨﺎء ﺻﺪاﻗﺎت ﻣﻊ ﻣﻨﻈﻤﺎت .existence ﺷﺒﻴﻬﺔ ﺣﻮل اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻢ. With a great sense of urgency, our goal is to secure the protection وﻳﺒﻘﻰ اﻟﻜﺜﻴﺮ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻌﻤﻞ ﻳﺠﺐ اﻟﻘﻴﺎم ﺑﻪ... ,of 50% of the trail by 2020. We are developing a conservation plan and we will reassess the trail corridor. A land inventory on the trail will enable us to identify and prioritize areas that are at risk. It will ﻟﻜﻦ وﻟﺴﻮء اﻟﺤﻆ، ﻓﺈن ّﻋﻠﺔ وﺟﻮد ﻫﺬه اﻟﻤﺸﺎرﻳﻊ ﺗﻨﺘﻔﻲ ﻓﻲ ﺣﺎل ّ also guide us as we create plans to acquire sections of the trail that اﺧﺘﻔﻰ اﻟﺪرب. ﻓﻤﺎ ﻧﺴﺒﺘﻪ ١٩٪ ﻓﻘﻂ ﻣﻦ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ ﻳﻘﻊ .are most endangered ﺿﻤﻦ ّﻣﺤﻤﻴﺎت ّﻃﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ، ﺑﻴﻨﻤﺎ ﻣﺎ ﺗﺒﻘّ ﻰ ﻣﻨﻪ ّﻣﻬﺪد ﺑﺎﻟﺰوال ﺑﻔﻌﻞ ّﺗﻤﺪد اﻟﻌﻤﺮان اﻟﻌﺸﻮاﺋﻲ، واﻟﻤﺸﺎرﻳﻊ ّاﻟﺴﻜﻨﻴﺔ اﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪة، واﻟﻄﺮﻗﺎت We will continue to stand firmly against the growing threats with ّواﻟﻜﺴﺎرات واﻟﻨﻔﺎﻳﺎت. our commitment to preserve the trail and the heritage along it for the sake of the present and the future generations. This cannot be ﻟﺬﻟﻚ ﺗﻘﻮم ّﺟﻤﻌﻴﺔ «درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ» ﺑﻮﺿﻊ ﻣﺸﺮوع ﻃﺎرئ done without the cooperation of the community at all levels and ﻳﻬﺪف إﻟﻰ ﺗﺄﻣﻴﻦ اﻟﺤﻤﺎﻳﺔ ل ٥٠٪ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺪرب ﺑﺤﻠﻮل اﻟﻌﺎم ٢٠٢٠. .especially your support وﺳﻴﺼﺎر ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼل ﻫﺬا اﻟﻤﺸﺮوع إﻟﻰ إﻋﺎدة ﺗﻘﻴﻴﻢ ﻣﺴﺎر اﻟﺪرب Nadine Weber ووﺿﻊ ﻗﺎﺋﻤﺔ ّﻣﻔﺼﻠﺔ ﺑﺎﻷراﺿﻲ وﺗﺤﺪﻳﺪ اﻟﻤﻨﺎﻃﻖ اﻷﻛﺜﺮ ﻋﺮﺿﺔ ﻟﻠﺨﻄﺮ ووﺿﻎ ﻣﺨﻄﻂ ﻟﺤﻤﺎﻳﺘﻬﺎ واﻟﺤﻔﺎظ ﻋﻠﻴﻬﺎ.

ّإن « ّﺟﻤﻌﻴﺔ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ» ﺳﺘﺴﺘﻤﺮ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻮاﺟﻬﺔ اﻟﺘﻬﺪﻳﺪات ّاﻟﺒﻴﺌﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﺘﺰاﻳﺪة، وﺳﺘَ ﺒﻘﻰ ﺛﺎﺑﺘﺔ ﱠﺑﻘﻮةٍ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺘِ ﺰاﻣﻬﺎ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺤﻔﺎظ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺪرب وﻋﻠﻰ اﻹرث ﻣﻦ ﺣﻮﻟﻪ ﻣﻦ أﺟﻞ اﻟﺤﺎﺿﺮ واﻟﻤﺴﺘﻘﺒﻞ. وﻛﻞ ﻫﺬا ﻻ ﻳﻤﻜﻦ ﺗﺤﻘﻴﻘﻪ ﻣﻦ دون ﺗﻌﺎون اﻟﻤﺠﺘﻤﻊ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻛﺎﻓﺔ اﻟﻤﺴﺘﻮﻳﺎت ّوﺑﺨﺎﺻﺔ اﻟﺪﻋﻢ اﻟﺪاﺋﻢ ﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻠﻜﻢ.

ﻧﺎدﻳﻦ وﺑﺮ

page 1 Editorial Team

Dr Beatrice Le Bon Chami Christian Akhrass Martine Btaich Maya Karkour Nadine Weber Ramez Lotfi Sawsan Haddad

Editing and Language Review

Dr Beatrice Le Bon Chami (FR) Fadi Chahine (AR) Dr Mary Angela Willis and Rob Mosrie (EN)

Contributors Board Members

Alia Fares Dr Beatrice Le Bon Chami, Trail Committee Carla Chehab Dory Reno, Outreach - Membership Darine Issa Fadi Baaklini, Accountant / Outreach Committee Prof Dr Fadi Nader Hana Hibri, Outreach - Fundraising Imane Khalife Martine Btaich, Vice-President / Development Committee Dr Jad Bou Arrage Maya Karkour, Education Committee Dr Jean Stephan Mirvat Bakkour, Outreach - Events Jack Elias Nadine Weber, President / Outreach - Communication Joe Daou Ramez Lotfi, Treasurer Joseph Karam Karim El Jisr Mabelle Chedid Dr Mary Angela Willis Maya Bou Nassar Staff Nour Keyrouz Salam Khalife Christian Akhrass, Field Coordinator Sarah Karam Sawsan Haddad, Executive Secretary Stephanie Mailhac Zeinab Jeambey

Lebanon Mountain Trail Association (LMTA) In the USA Sacre-Coeur Hospital Street American Friends of the LMT (AFLMT) Ghaleb Center, 1st Floor 1600 Wilson Blvd, Suite 1220 Baabda, LEBANON Arlington, VA 22209 – USA Phone +961 5 955 302 Phone (703) 841 1883 Fax +961 5 955 303 Fax (703) 841 1885 [email protected] [email protected] www.lebanontrail.org www.aflmt.org

This issue was printed by

Cover photo: The Lebanese Foundation for the Preservation of the Emirs Chehab Citadel - Hasbaiya

Layout and Design by

Contents

4 Trail and Conservation • Blazing and difficulty level اﻟﻤﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻹرﺛﻴﻦ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ واﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺤﻴﻂ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ • • Le Sentier Littéraire de Baskinta • Aazibeh Valley: a walk through geological time • Flora and Fauna

12 Community Development • Cultural and Archaeological Heritage on the LMT • Emirs Chehab Citadel - Hasbaiya • Maisons d’hôtes: quoi de neuf? • Spotlight on a Local Guide on the LMT

16 Education • Trail To Every Classroom • Environmental Championship Program

20 News • Interview with Dr. Rawiya Majzoub Barakeh • Honorary Membership • Events on the LMT • Book reviews

26 LMTA Overseas • Meet our Ambassadors • LMT abroad

28 News from our Partners • The Food Heritage Foundation • Association du Polyliban اﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ اﻟﺪﺷﺎر- إﻫﻤﺞ • • Tips from our Outdoor Gear Partner

32 Financials • Donors and Partners • Financial Statement 2014

36 End2End List

page 3 Trail and Conservation

Blazing on the Lebanon Mountain Trail Dr. Beatrice Le Bon Chami

The LMTA Trail Committee adopted these final blazing codes

Sign on Sign on Sign on LMT Side Trails Connecting Trails Go Straight Photo: Nadine Weber

Blazing Status – July 2015

Turn Left LMT from Andqet to Marjaayoun: 27 sections Blazed: 57%

Fully blazed: 13 sections | 49.5% Turn Right Sections #5 to #12 (Bqaa Safrine – Afqa) Sections #15 to #17 (Baskinta – Ain Zhalta) Sections #20 and #21 (Maaser ech-Chouf – Jezzine)

Partially blazed: 4 sections | 7.5% Sections #13 and #14 (Chabrouh – Baskinta) | 86% Wrong Direction Sections #25 and #26 (Rachaiya – Hasbaiya) | 10%

Not yet blazed: 10 sections Sections #0 to #4 (Andqet – El Qoubaiyat) Sections #22 to #24 (Jezzine – Rachaiya) End / Beginning Sections #18 and #19 (located in the Shouf Biosphere Reserve; of Trail will not be blazed)

A connection trail is a segment that connects the beginning or the end of a section to a village center.

Sections fully blazed Sections partially blazed Sections not yet blazed Will not be blazed Difficulty Rating

The LMTA Trail Committee adopted a new difficulty rating scale for the trails found on Northwest Hiker (www.nwhiker.com/HikeEval.html). This scale takes into account the total length and total ascent of each section. The difficulty rating is divided into 6 levels and has been adapted to the LMT.

When you plan to hike on the LMT, make sure you are fit enough for the difficulty level specified.

Sections North-South South-North

# From To miles km NEW M NEW Km NEW LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY NEW LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY

0 Andqet El Qoubaiyat 9.9 16 9.9 16 17 Challenging 17 Challenging 1 El Qoubayiat Tashea 12.3 19.8 12.3 19.8 27 Very Difficult 18 Challenging 2 Tashea Qemmamine 13.5 21.8 14.9 24 19 Difficult 24 Very Difficult 3 Qemmamine Kfar Bnine 5.6 9 5.6 9 32 Extreme 24 Very Difficult 4 Kfar Bnine Bqaa Safrine 10.1 16.2 10.1 16.2 23 Difficult 25 Very Difficult 5 Bqaa Safrine Ehden 14.3 23 14.3 23 27 Very Difficult 23 Difficult 6 Ehden Qannoubine 6.1 9.8 7.6 12.2 14 Challenging 27 Very Difficult 7 Qannoubine Bcharre 5.7 9.1 8.3 13.3 23 Difficult 9 Moderate 8 Bcharre Hasroun 11.8 19 11.8 19 21 Difficult 21 Difficult 9 Hasroun Tannourine 12.8 20.6 12.8 20.6 25 Very Difficult 25 Very Difficult 10 Tannourine Aaqoura 11.7 18.8 11.7 18.8 26 Very Difficult 26 Very Difficult 11 Aaqoura Afqa 12.3 19.8 12.7 20.4 17 Challenging 18 Challenging 12 Afqa Chabrouh 11.3 18.2 11.3 18.2 21 Difficult 20 Difficult 13 Chabrouh Kfardebiane 11.3 18.2 7.5 12 18 Challenging 20 Difficult 14 Kfardebiane Baskinta 12.3 19.8 14.3 23 22 Difficult 21 Difficult 15 Baskinta El Mtain 11.6 18.7 11.2 18.1 17 Challenging 19 Difficult 16 El Mtain Falougha 12.0 19.3 9.1 14.7 22 Difficult 22 Difficult 17 Falougha Ain Zhalta 12.4 19.9 9.6 15.4 18 Challenging 19 Difficult 18 Ain Zhalta El Barouk 13.5 21.8 10.4 16.7 21 Difficult 23 Difficult 19 El Barouk Maaser ech-Chouf 6.6 10.6 6.6 10.6 21 Difficult 20 Difficult 20 Maaser ech-Chouf Niha 7.6 12.3 7.6 12.3 17 Challenging 19 Difficult 21 Niha Jezzine 7.3 11.8 9.9 16 16 Challenging 17 Challenging 22 Jezzine Aaitanit 9.9 16 9.9 16 21 Difficult 21 Difficult 23 Aaitanit Kaoukaba Bou Arab 9.5 15.3 9.5 15.3 21 Difficult 18 Challenging 24 Kaoukaba Bou Arab Rachaiya 5.4 8.7 5.4 8.7 17 Challenging 12 Moderate 25 Rachaiya Hasbaiya 15.2 24.5 14.1 22.7 24 Very Difficult 29 Extreme 26 Hasbaiya Marjaayoun 9.7 15.6 9.7 15.6 16 Challenging 15 Challenging

Scale Level Easy Challenging Very Difficult

• young and elderly • someone in good thiking condition • someone in excellent hiking condition 0-7 Easy • someone in fair hiking condition • trails are generally in good condition • trails are not always in good condition 8-13 Moderate • trails are generally in good condition • increased mileage • significant increase in mileage • very little elevation gain • significant elevation gain • significant increase in elevation gain 14-18 Challenging 19-23 Difficult Extreme 24-27 Very Difficult Moderate Difficult 28+ Extreme • someone in good hiking condition • someone in excellent hiking condition • someone in exceptional • trails are generally in good condition • trails are generally in good condition hiking/climbing condition • increased mileage • significant increase in mileage • trails are not always available • moderate elevation gain • significant increase in elevation gain • significant increase in mileage • extreme elevation gain • technical aspects of hike

page 5 Photo: Nadine Weber

اﻟﻤﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻹرﺛﻴﻦ ّاﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ واﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺤﻴﻂ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ د. ﺟﺎن اﺳﻄﻔﺎن ّ ّ

ّﻳﻤﺮ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ ﻓﻲ ّﻋﺪة ًﻗﺮى وﻣﻨﺎﻃﻖَ ّﻟﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﺗﺨﺘﻠﻒ ّاﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ ّواﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻲ، ّوﺑﺨﺎﺻﺔٍ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺤﻴﻂ ﻣﺴﺎر درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ؟ ﺑﻄﺒﻴﻌﺘﻬﺎ وﺗﻀﺎرﻳﺴﻬﺎ وﻧﺒﺎﺗﺎﺗﻬﺎ وﺗﻐﻨﻲ اﻟﺪرب ّﺑﺘﻨﻮﻋﻬﺎ. اﻻ أﻧّ ﻪ ﻓﻲ ّاﻵﻟﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﻨﺎﺳﺒﺔ ﻟﺬﻟﻚ ًﻋﻤﻠﻴﺎ، ﺗﻜﻮن ﻋﺒﺮ وﺿﻊ ّﻣﺨﻄﻂ ّﺗﻮﺟﻴﻬﻲ اﻵوﻧﺔ اﻷﺧﻴﺮة، ﺑﺮزت ﻣﺸﻜﻠﺔ اﻟﻤﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻫﺬا اﻟﻐﻨﻰ ّاﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ ﻻﺳﺘﺨﺪام اﻷراﺿﻲ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻘﺮى اﻟﺘﻲ ّﻳﻤﺮ ﺑﻬﺎ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ. وﻫﻮ ّواﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺤﻴﻂ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ، ﺑﺤﻴﺚ ّأن اﻟﻤﻌﺎﻟﻢ ّاﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ ّﻣﺨﻄﻂ ّاﺳﺘﺮاﺗﻴﺠﻲ َﺗﻨﻤ ّﻮي ﻳﻬﺪف إﻟﻰ ّاﻟﺘﻨﻤﻴﺔ ّاﻻﻗﺘﺼﺎدﻳﺔ ّواﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻴﺔ ﺑﺎﺗﺖ ّﻣﻬﺪدة ﺑﻔﻌﻞ اﻹﻧﺴﺎن أو ﺑﺈﻫﻤﺎﻟﻪ ﻟﻬﺎ. ﻓﻔﻲ ﺑﻌﺾ ّواﻻﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﻴﺔ ﻣﻊ اﻟﻤﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺒﻴﺌﺔ وﻋﻠﻰ اﺳﺘﺪاﻣﺔ اﻟﻤﻮارد أﻗﺴﺎم اﻟﺪرب ّﺗﺤﻮﻟﺖ اﻟﻐﺎﺑﺎت إﻟﻰ ﻣﺮاﻣﻞ، واﻷﻧﻬﺎر إﻟﻰ أﻗﻨﻴﺔ، ّاﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ واﻹرﺛﻴﻦ ّاﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ ّواﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻲ. ودروب اﻟﻤﺸﺎة إﻟﻰ ﻃﺮﻗﺎت ّﻣﻌﺒﺪة، ّوﺷﻼﻻت اﻟﻤﻴﺎه ّﺗﺤﻮﻟﺖ إﻟﻰ ﺳﻌﺖ اﻟﺤﻜﻮﻣﺔ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻋﺒﺮ ﻣﺠﻠﺲ اﻹﻧﻤﺎء واﻹﻋﻤﺎر وﺑﺘﻤﻮﻳﻞ ﻧﺰّ ازات ﺗﻔﻮح ﻣﻨﻬﺎ راﺋﺤﺔ اﻟﻤﺠﺎرﻳﺮ، ّوﺗﺒﺪﻟﺖ اﻟﻤﺮاﻋﻲ إﻟﻰ ﺣﺪاﺋﻖ ّأوروﺑﻲ وﺑﺪﻋﻢ ّﺗﻘﻨﻲ ّﻓﺮﻧﺴﻲ إﻟﻰ وﺿﻊ ّﻣﺨﻄﻂ ﺷﺎﻣﻞ ﻟﺘﺮﺗﻴﺐ ﱠﻣﺴﻴﺠﺔ، واﻟﺠﻠﻮل ّاﻟﺰراﻋﻴﺔ إﻟﻰ أﺣﻴﺎء ّﺳﻜﻨﻴﺔ واﻟﺒﻴﻮت ّاﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﺪﻳﺔ اﻷراﺿﻲ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﺔ، ّﺗﻤﺖ اﻟﻤﻮاﻓﻘﺔ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﺳﻨﺔ ٢٠٠٩ ّوﺧﺼﺺ ﻫﺬا ّواﻷﺛﺮﻳﺔ أﺻﺒﺤﺖ ﻣﺮﻗﱠ ﻌﺔ ﺑﺎﻟﺒﺎﻃﻮن واﻟﻄﻮاﺑﻖ اﻟﻌﻠﻴﺎ، ﻓﻲ ﺣﻴﻦ أن اﻟﻤﺨﻄﻂ ﻣﻜﺎﻧﺔً ﻟﻠﻤﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻹرﺛﻴﻦ ّاﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ ّواﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻲ ﻋﺒﺮ اﻟﻤﻮاﻗﻊ ّاﻷﺛﺮﻳﺔ ﺗﺰورﻫﺎ اﻟﻨﻔﺎﻳﺎت ﻣﻦ ﻛﻞّ ﺻﻮب. ّﻋﺪة اﻗﺘﺮاﺣﺎت، ﻟﻜﻨّ ﻪ ﻟﻢ ﻳﺪﺧﻞ ّﺣﻴﺰ اﻟﺘﻨﻔﻴﺬ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺻﻌﻴﺪ اﻟﻘﺮى ﺑﺸﻜﻞ ّإن اﻹرث ّاﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ ﻳﺸﻤﻞ اﻟﻤﻨﺎﻇﺮ ّاﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ وﻃﺮﻳﻘﺔ ﺗﻨﺴﻴﻘﻬﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺒﺎﺷﺮ أو ﺷﺎﻣﻞ. ﺻﺤﻴﺢ ّأن درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ ّﻳﻤﺮ ﺿﻤﻦ ﻣﻨﺎﻃﻖ ّﻣﺤﻤﻴﺔ، ﻗﺒﻞ اﻹﻧﺴﺎن. ﻓﻬﻮ ﻳﺸﻤﻞ: ﻏﺎﺑﺎت، أﺣﺮاج، أراﺿﻲ ًﺳﻠﻴﺨﺎ ّوﺟﺮدﻳﺔ، أو ﻣﺼﻨّ ﻔﺔ ﻛﻤﻨﺘﺰﻫﺎت أو ﻣﻮاﻗﻊ ﻃﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ ّﻣﻤﻴﺰة، وﻟﻜﻨّ ﻪ ّﻳﻤﺮ ًأﻳﻀﺎ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺴﺘﻘﻌﺎت، ًأﻧﻬﺎرا، ًﺑﺮﻛﺎ ّﻃﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ، ﺷﻼﻻت، ﻣﻐﺎور، ﺗﺮﺑﺔ، ًﻣﻴﺎﻫﺎ، أراض ﺧﺎﺻﺔ، ّزراﻋﻴﺔ، ّﻣﺪﻧﻴﺔ، وﺣﺘّ ﻰ ﻓﻲ أﺣﺮاج وﻣﺮاع ﺧﺎرج ﻧﻄﺎق ّأي ﻧﺒﺎﺗﺎت، ﺣﻴﻮاﻧﺎت، ًوﺻﺨﻮرا. ﺗﺼﻨﻴﻒ. ﻓﻲ ﺣﻴﻦ ّأن اﻹرث ّاﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻲ ﻣﻘﺘﺼﺮ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻋﻤﻞ اﻹﻧﺴﺎن ّاﻟﺤﻀﺎري اﻟﻤﻄﻠﻮب ًﺣﺎﻟﻴﺎ، ﻫﻮ ّاﻟﺴﻌﻲ إﻟﻰ وﺿﻊ ّﻣﺨﻄﻂ ّاﺳﺘﺮاﺗﻴﺠﻲ َﺗﻨﻤ ّﻮي ﻋﺒﺮ اﻟﺘﺎرﻳﺦ. وﻫﻮ ﻳﺸﻤﻞ ﻟﻴﺲ ﻓﻘﻂ اﻟﺒﻴﻮت اﻟﻘﺪﻳﻤﺔ، واﻟﻄﻮاﺣﻴﻦ، ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﻨﺎﻃﻖ اﻟﻮاﻗﻌﺔ ﺧﺎرج اﻟﻤﻮاﻗﻊ ّاﻟﻤﺤﻤﻴﺔ واﻟﻤﺼﻨّ ﻔﺔ، وذﻟﻚ واﻟﻤﺘﺎﺣﻒ، واﻟﺮﺳﻮم ّاﻟﺠﺪراﻧﻴﺔ، ودور اﻟﻌﺒﺎدة، واﻟﻘﻼع، واﻵﺛﺎر، ﺑﻤﺸﺎرﻛﺔ ّﻓﻌﻠﻴﺔ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﺠﺘﻤﻊ ّاﻟﻤﺤﻠﻲ ﺑﺎﻟﺘﻌﺎون ﻣﻊ ّﺟﻤﻌﻴﺔ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ واﻟﻨﻘﻮش ّاﻟﺼﺨﺮﻳﺔ، واﻟﺠﻠﻮلَ ّاﻟﺰراﻋﻴﺔ، ﺑﻞ ًأﻳﻀﺎ اﻟﻌﺎدات واﻟﺘﻘﺎﻟﻴﺪ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ واﻟﻤﺆﺳﺴﺎت ّاﻟﺤﻜﻮﻣﻴﺔ. وﻫﺬ ّاﻟﻤﺨﻄﻂ ﻳﻬﺪف إﻟﻰ: (ﻃﺮق إﻋﺪاد وﺗﺤﻀﻴﺮ اﻷﻣﻮر اﻟﺤﻴﺎﺗﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﺨﺘﻠﻔﺔ) ﻣﻦ ﺿﻴﺎﻓﺔ، • ﺗﻮﻋﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﻘﻴﻤﻴﻦ واﻟﻤﺎﻟﻜﻴﻦ ﻟﻤﺤﻴﻂ ﻣﺴﺎر درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ ﻋﻠﻰ ّأﻫﻤﻴﺔ وﻣﺄﻛﻮﻻت، وأﻏﺎﻧﻲ ورﻗﺼﺎت، وأﻋﻤﺎل زراﻋﻴﺔ، وﺑﻨﺎء، ّوﻃﺐ اﻟﻤﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻹرﺛﻴﻦ ّاﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ ّواﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻲ. ّﺗﻘﻠﻴﺪي...إﻟﺦ. • ﺗﻌﺰﻳﺰ اﻟﺘﻨﻤﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﺴﺘَ ﺪاﻣﺔ ﻟﻠﻘﺮى اﻟﺘﻲ ﻳﺸﻤﻠﻬﺎ ﻣﺴﺎر درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ. ﻓﺎﻟﺴﺆال اﻟﻤﻄﺮوح اﻟﻴﻮم ﻫﻮ ﻫﻞ ﻳﻤﻜﻦ اﻟﻤﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻹرﺛﻴﻦ • وﺿﻊ ﺷِ ﺮﻋﺔ ﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻞ ﻛﺎﻓّ ﺔ ّاﻟﻤﻌﻨﻴﻴﻦ ﺗﻬﺪف إﻟﻰ ﺗﺮﺗﻴﺐ وﺟﻬﺔ اﺳﺘﻌﻤﺎل اﻷراﺿﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺤﻴﻂ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ. Partenariats tous azimuts pour mettre en valeur le Sentier littéraire de Baskinta Joseph Karam

A longueur d’année, les passionnés de la nature et de la littérature visitent Baskinta pour arpenter son sentier littéraire (le Baskinta Literary Trail ou BLT) et découvrir ou redécouvrir le riche patrimoine naturel et culturel de cette belle région nichée dans les contreforts du Mont Sannine. Accompagné de guides locaux, le visiteur y découvre les paysages, endroits, histoires et traditions qui ont animé et inspiré les œuvres de Mikhael Naimy dans son Chakhroub, Abdallah Ghanem dans son nid du rossignol, Amine Maalouf dans son rocher de Tanios (mais c’est lequel au juste?), Rachid Ayoub et sa nostalgie de la neige, Suleiman Kettaneh, George Ghanem et d’autres.

Une expérience inoubliable, et rendue encore plus agréable par la présence de près de 50 panneaux d’information et de signalisation tout au long du BLT. Un panneau d’information sur la grotte de Sayf el Dawlé par ci, un autre quelques centaines de mètres plus loin montrant l’endroit où le BLT rejoint le Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT).

En partenariat avec la LMTA et AFLMT (American Friends of the LMT), un comité local du BLT a été formé, comprenant des représentants des familles des poètes et romanciers, des maisons d’hôtes, des écoles locales, des scouts de Baskinta, et de la municipalité ainsi que des guides locaux. Objectif principal: protéger, entretenir, Photo: Christian Akhrass développer et promouvoir le BLT comme un produit touristique durable distingué. Le comité local du BLT passe à l’action Toujours en partenariat avec la LMTA et A peine formé, le comité local du BLT a déjà entamé les actions suivantes, en partenariat AFLMT, et avec le concours de volontaires avec la LMTA et AFLMT : venus des quatre coins du Liban, ce comité • Polissage et peinture des poteaux en bois des panneaux d’information et de signalisation local a déjà engagé une série d’actions (janvier-février-mars 2015) prioritaires (voir encadré). • Journée communautaire de nettoyage et défrichage du sentier (juin 2015) La LMTA continuera d’apporter son soutien • Appui à la campagne de nettoyage de la forêt de pins de Baskinta organisé par l’ONG logistique, technique et financier au comité Baskinta Baytouna (juin 2015) local du BLT. La LMTA remercie l’association des amis américains du LMT (AFLMT) et ses donateurs pour leur soutien technique et financier au projet de mise en valeur du BLT. Un grand merci également aux volontaires qui ont participé au nettoyage et défrichage du sentier et de la forêt de pins de Marj Baskinta. Si vous désirez faire partie de ce beau projet, n’hésitez pas à nous contacter!

Enfin, et encore une fois, grand merci à ECODIT qui a conçu et réalisé le BLT dans le cadre du projet d’élaboration du LMT, et grand merci à l’USAID pour son financement du projet LMT (2005-2008)!

page 7 Aazibeh Valley: a walk through geological time Prof Dr Fadi H. Nader

North-facing Google Earth satellite photograph Lebanon is endowed with showing the Aazibeh Valley (Jezzine) and breathtaking nature, including the amazing exposure of the geological units momentous geological intercepted by the hiking pathway (in red). features. While many of these features have been well investigated and documented by generations of geologists, they are seldom known to the general public or even outdoor enthusiasts. Indeed, hikers, climbers and nature lovers likely pass by very interesting geological features with a lot The Aazibeh Valley in Jezzine locality is one of the geological jewels of Lebanon. It hosts an accessible of mysteries without knowing. 2km long walking path that cross-cuts most of the geological rock units exposed in Lebanon. Scientists have the obligation to The geological rock units are called “Formations” and they have been mapped to form standard share their knowledge and raise geological maps (available in Lebanon with a scale of 1/50,000 since 1945). Throughout Lebanon, the public awareness about such geological treasures, to make exposed rocks have ages as old as the Jurassic period (some 200 million years ago) and as young as people appreciate them more, recent soil (forming still today). These rocks are then organized in different “formation” having specific and subsequently protect them. ages and lithologies (i.e. rock types). Indeed, the Lebanese rocks are well diversified in terms of their lithologies. We can find volcanic rocks, carbonate rocks (limestone and dolostone), clay and shale, as well as sandstone. These rocks are well exposed along the Aazibeh Valley. And even more, these rocks reveal wonderful sedimentary structures and fossils which are the basic building blocks for the geologist to infer the prevailing environment of deposition millions of years ago. For instance, fossilized “ripple marks” represent beach environments similar to the ripples we see today below the water along modern beaches. The type of fossils (species) tell us the environment in which they have lived at the time of the deposition of the nearby sediments. And last but not least, coal indicate the presence of ancient swamps. Now let us take a tour along the Aazibeh path and explore the geology of Lebanon. Gastropod fossil in Cretaceous limestone – deposited in ancient lagoon

As we park the car near the farm at the sharp U-turn, where the walking path starts (towards the east), we start our journey back in time through the geological periods. We are first in the Cenomanian Stage (100 to 94 Ma) where lacustrine, thin-bedded rocks are exposed. These belong to the geological formation called “Sannine” (since it was first described there). Then, we walk through albian, marls, shales and dolomite with fantastic gastropods. The Aptian includes limestone rocks forming sharp cliffs then sandy limestone with a transition to the sandstone of the Chouf Formation. This rock unit includes exceptional eolian dunes features, channels with fossilized wood, and coal layers with ashes (representing burn forests). Our journey continues through beautiful sand deposits of oolitic limestone of the Upper Jurassic (Salima Formation) and massive limestones and dolostones of the Bikfaya Fossilized wood in channel Formation. Here some volcanics and shales are present and the older Jurassic limestones of sandstone of Cretaceous age the Kesrouane Formation. (Aazibeh Valley, Jezzine) In a short walk of about one hour, the visitor can almost observe the complete geologic successions of Lebanon. This gives the Aazibeh Valley, the potential to become the first “geological path” of Lebanon. A comfortable walk, very rich with geological knowledge that could benefit young school-children as well as older nature-lovers. All are invited to discover this place, take photographs and enjoy nature, but please do not destroy what you observe and never take souvenirs! They remain more spectacular in the place where they have been for millions of years. Then you can bring more friends and show them Panoramic view facing south, looking to the such jewels. Together we can appreciate and Jurassic-Cretaceous (left-right) stratigraphic protect our national heritage for generations to boundary at the easternmost end of the Aazibeh come. pathway. For more information on the general geology of Lebanon: The Geology of Lebanon (F.H. Nader), Scientific Press, 2014 Flora & Fauna

Évaluation de la biodiversité sur deux sections du LMT Sarah Karam, Darine Issa

La diversité biologique ou «biodiversité» englobe la variété des formes de vie sur Terre, y compris les espèces végétales, animales, microorganismes, leurs communautés et écosystèmes. La biodiversité est essentielle à la vie sur Terre car elle maintient l’équilibre et le bon fonctionnement de la planète. Elle présente plusieurs valeurs:

• Valeur éthique: que possède chaque espèce par le simple fait qu’elle existe (transmission de l’héritage aux générations futures).

• Valeur écologique: les interdépendances des espèces influencent les processus naturels qui assurent l’intégrité des écosystèmes, leur stabilité et leur résilience.

• Valeur économique: traduction des services de la biodiversité en termes monétaires. La valeur financière des biens et services fournis par les écosystèmes est estimée par l’Union Européenne à 26.000 milliards €/an, somme équivalente au double de la valeur de ce que produisent les La forêt des Genévriers humains chaque année. Photo: Nadine Weber

Il existe sur Terre entre 5 et 30 millions d’espèces, dont 1,5 million sont décrites. Le bassin méditerranéen constitue un des majeurs réservoirs de la biodiversité. Le Liban, bénéficiant d’une complexité topographique et altitudinale, possède un très haut niveau de biodiversité et constitue un des «hot-spots» mondiaux. Bien que sa superficie soit relativement réduite (0.007% de la superficie terrestre), le Liban contient 1,11% des espèces végétales du monde. On y dénombre 2.612 espèces de flore terrestre et d’eau douce (Tohmé and Tohmé, 2014) - dont 311 plantes endémiques - et 4.486 espèces animales terrestres et marines (MoA/UNEP, 1996). La valorisation de cette richesse doit être prise en considération au niveau national. La LMTA - par ses activités variées et ses sentiers couvrant presque tout le Liban - joue un rôle prépondérant dans la conservation de la biodiversité libanaise. En effet, la familiarisation et l’interaction du public avec les différentes formes de biodiversité sont indispensables à la gestion et la conservation de cette richesse. Durant le dernier Thru-Walk, deux étudiantes de la Faculté des Sciences de l’Université Libanaise ont évalué - sous la supervision de Dr Jean Stephan - la richesse florale sur les sections 12 & 13 du LMT entre Afqa et Kfardebiane. (sections falaises, prairies d’altitude, forêt de genévriers, zones humides, types de sols variés). Plus de 100 espèces florales et trois espèces endémiques ont pu être répertoriées.

Photo: Sarah Karam, Darine Issa

page 9 Aethionema capitatum Alkanna prasynophyla Ficaria ficaroides Lloydia rubroviridis (endémique)

Prunus ursina Vinca libanotica Veronica polita Ornithogalum montanum

Anemone blanda Gagea gageoides Ranunculus Fritilaria Valeriana orbiculatus crassifolia discoridis (endémique)

Puschkinia scilloides Tulipa agenensisValeriana Asphodelus Brunnera Crepis libanotica libanotica (endemic) discoridis microcarpus orientalis «ﺑﻮدي» أﻧﺜﻰ اﻟﺜﻌﻠﺐ اﻷﻛﺜﺮ ﺟﺮأة ﻋﻠﻰ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ ﻛﺮﻳﺴﺘﻴﺎن أﺧﺮس

دروب ﻟﺒﻨﺎن ﻛﺜﻴﺮة وﻣﺘﺸﻌﺒﺔ. ودرب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ ﻫﻮ ﺟﺰء ﻣﻨﻬﺎ ّﻳﻤﺮ ّﺑﻌﺪة أﻗﻀﻴﺔ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺠﻨﻮب إﻟﻰ اﻟﺸﻤﺎل ﻣﺮورا ّﺑﻌﺪة ﺑﻠﺪات وﻗﺮى ﻓﻲ اﻟﺮﻳﻒ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ. إن أﻧﺖ ْاﻋﺘﻘﺪتَ أﻧّ ﻚ ﺗﺴﻴﺮ ﺑﻤﻔﺮدك ﻋﻠﻰ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ ﻓﺄﻧﺖ ﺑﺎﻟﻄﺒﻊ ﻣﺨﻄﺊ ﻛﻤﺎ اﻟﻌﺪﻳﺪ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺤﺒﻲ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﺔ. ﻓﺎﻧﺖ ﻓﻲ ﻛﻞ ﻟﺤﻈﺔ ﻣﺮاﻗﺐ أﻳﻨﻤﺎ ّﺗﻮﺟﻬﺖ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺠﺒﺎل واﻷودﻳﺔ اﻟﺴﺤﻴﻘﺔ. ﻓﻲ واد ﻋﻤﻴﻖ ّﻣﺘﻔﺮع ﻣﻦ وادي ﻗﺎدﻳﺸﺎ، ّﻳﻤﺘﺪ وادي ّﻗﺰﺣﻴﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ ّﻋﺪة ﻛﻴﻠﻮﻣﺘﺮات ﺗﺤﺖ ﺑﻠﺪة إﻫﺪن وﻋﻴﻨﻄﻮرﻳﻦ وﻋﺮﺑﺔ ﻗﺰﺣﻴﺎ وﻏﻴﺮﻫﺎ. ُﺑﻨِ َﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻫﺬا اﻟﻮادي دﻳﺮ ﻣﺎر أﻧﻄﻮﻧﻴﻮس ﻗﺰﺣﻴﺎ اﻟﻘﺪﻳﻢ اﻟﻌﻬﺪ، ﻓﻲ ﺷﻴﺮ ّﺻﺨﺮي ﺑﻘﻠﺐ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﺔ ّاﻟﺨﻼﺑﺔ واﻟﺴﺎﺣﺮة ﻓﻲ ﻫﺬا اﻟﻮادي ّاﻟﻤﻘﺪس. ﺗﻌﻴﺶ ﻓﻲ ﻫﺬا اﻟﻮادي ﺣﻴﻮاﻧﺎت ﻛﺜﻴﺮة، ﻗﺪ اﺗّ ﺨﺬت ﻣﻨﻪ ﻣﻠﺠﺄ ﻟﻬﺎ ًﺑﻌﻴﺪا ﻋﻦ ﺧﻄﺮ اﻹﻧﺴﺎن و ﻣﻄﺎردﺗﻪ ﻟﻬﺎ. أﻧﻮاع ﻫﺬه اﻟﺤﻴﻮاﻧﺎت ﻋﺪﻳﺪة ﻧﺬﻛﺮ ﻣﻨﻬﺎ: اﻟﺨﻨﺰﻳﺮ ّاﻟﺒﺮي، اﻟﺜﻌﻠﺐ، اﺑﻦ آوى، اﻟﻄﺒﺴﻮن، اﻟﺴﻨﺠﺎب، اﻟﻨﻤﺲ، اﻟﻘﻨﻔﺬ، ﻛﺒﻜﺎب ّاﻟﺸﻮك، اﻟﻮﻃﻮاط، واﻟﻜﻮاﺳﺮ ﻋﻠﻰ أﻧﻮاﻋﻬﺎ. اﻟﺤﻴﻮان ّاﻟﻤﻤﻴﺰ ﻓﻲ ﻫﺬه اﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘﺔ ﻫﻮ «ﺑﻮدي» اﻟﺜﻌﻠﺐ اﻷﻧﺜﻰ اﻟﺘﻲ ّﺗﺠﺮأت، ﻋﻠﻰ ﻋﻜﺲ اﻟﺤﻴﻮاﻧﺎت ّاﻟﺒﺮﻳﺔ اﻷﺧﺮى، أن ﺗﺪﻧﻮ ﻣﻦ دﻳﺮ ﻣﺎر أﻧﻄﻮﻧﻴﻮس ﻗﺰﺣﻴﺎ، وﺑﺎﻟﺘﺤﺪﻳﺪ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﺪﺧﻞ ّاﻟﻐﺮﺑﻲ، ﻟﻜﻲ ﺗﺤﺎول أن ﺗﻜﺘﺸﻒ أو ﺗﺘﻨﺎول ﻣﺎ ّﺗﻴﺴﺮ ﻟﻬﺎ ﻣﻦ ﺑﻘﺎﻳﺎ اﻷﻛﻞ أو ﻣﺎ ﺷﺎﺑﻪ. Photo: Christian Akhrass

ﺟﻮزﻳﻒ وﻫﻮ اﻟﺮﺟﻞ اﻟﺬي ﻳﻌﻤﻞ ﻓﻲ ﻧﺰل ﻗﺰﺣﻴﺎ، ﻻﺣﻆ ّﺗﺮدد ﺑﻮدي ﻋﻨﺪ اﻟﻐﺮوب إﻟﻰ أﻣﺎم اﻟﻤﺪﺧﻞ ّاﻟﻐﺮﺑﻲ ﻟﻠﺪﻳﺮ ﻓﺎﻋﺘﻘﺪ أﻧّ ﻬﺎ ﺛﻌﻠﺐ ذﻛﺮ ﻟﺬﻟﻚ ﺳﻤﺎﻫﺎ «ﺑﻮدي»، ﺛﻢ ﺑﺪأ ﺑﺈﻋﻄﺎﺋﻬﺎ ﻓﻀﻼت اﻟﻄﻌﺎم ﻣﻤﺎ ﺳﻤﺢ ﻟﻬﺎ ّﺑﺎﻟﺘﻮدد إﻟﻴﻪ أﻛﺜﺮ واﻻﻗﺘﺮاب ﻣﻨﻪ ﺑﺤﺬر ﻛﺒﻴﺮ ﻟﺪرﺟﺔ أﻧّ ﻬﺎ ﻛﺎﻧﺖ ﺗﺴﺤﺐ اﻷﻛﻞ ﺑﻄﺮﻳﻘﺔ ﺳﺮﻳﻌﺔ ّﺟﺪ ًا. وﻳﺮوي ﺟﻮزﻳﻒ ًﻗﺎﺋﻼ: «ﻓﻲ ﻳﻮم ﻣﻦ اﻷﻳﺎم ﺗﻤﻜّﻨﺖُ ﻣﻦ ﺗﺨﻔﻴﻒ ﺣﺬر ﺑﻮدي ﻓﺘﺮﻛﺘﻬﺎ ﺗﺤﻮر وﺗﺪور ﻣﻦ ﺣﻮﻟﻨﺎ ﻃﺎﻟﺒﺔ ﺑﻌﺾ اﻟﻄﻌﺎم، إﻟﻰ أن ّﺗﻤﺪدتُ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻷرض ووﺿﻌﺖ ﻗﻄﻌﺔ ﻟﺤﻢ ﺑﻌﺠﻴﻦ ﻓﻲ ﻓﻤﻲ واﻧﺘﻈﺮت ان ﺗﻘﺘﺮب وﺗﺄﺧﺬﻫﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻓﻤﻲ وﻛﻨﺖ أدرك أﻧّ ﻪ رﺑﻤﺎ ﻟﻢ ﻳﺤﺎول ٌأﺣﺪ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻢ ﻛﻠﻪ إﻃﻌﺎم ﺣﻴﻮان ّﺑﺮي ﻣﻦ ﻓﻤﻪ. ﻟﻢ أﻛﻦ ًﺧﺎﺋﻔﺎ أﺑﺪا أن ﺗﻌﻀّ ﻨﻲ وﻫﻲ ﺗﺴﺤﺐ اﻟﻘﻄﻌﺔ، إﻧّ ﻤﺎ ﻛﻨﺖ ًﺧﺎﺋﻔﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻓﺸﻞ اﻟﻤﺤﺎوﻟﺔ وﻋﺪم ﺟﺮأﺗﻬﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻫﺬه اﻟﻤﺠﺎزﻓﺔ. ّﻟﻜﻦ اﻟﺠﻮع ﻫﻮ اﻷﻗﻮى. ﻓﻔﻲ ﻟﺤﻈﺎت راﺣﺖ ﺗﻘﺘﺮب ﺑﺤﺬر ﺷﺪﻳﺪ ّوﺗﺘﺮدد وﺗﺤﻮر وﺗﺪور إﻟﻰ أن ّﻣﺪت ﺟﺴﻤﻬﺎ ﻧﺤﻮي ﺗﺎرﻛﺔً ﺑﻌﺾ اﻟﺴﻨﺘﻤﺘﺮات ﺑﻴﻨﻲ وﺑﻴﻨﻬﺎ. وﻓﻲ ﻟﺤﻈﺔ ﺳﺤﺒﺖ ًﺟﺰءا ﻣﻦ اﻟﻘﻄﻌﺔ وﻓﻲ ﻣﺤﺎوﻟﺔ ﺛﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﺗﻤﻜّﻨﺖ ﻣﻦ ﺳﺤﺐ اﻟﺠﺰء اﻟﻤﺘﺒﻘّ ﻲ ﻓﻲ ﻓﻤﻲ ﻣﻦ دون ﺣﺘّ ﻰ أن ﻳﻠﻤﺲ أﻧﻔﻬﺎ وﺟﻬﻲ.» ًﻃﺒﻌﺎ ﻣﺤﺎوﻟﺔ ﺟﺮﻳﺌﺔ ّورﺑﻤﺎ ﺧﻄﺮة ﺑﺎﻟﻨﺴﺒﺔ ﻟﻠﺒﻌﺾ. ّوﻟﻜﻦ اﻟﺬي ﻳﻔﻬﻢ ﻧﻤﻂ ﻋﻴﺶ ّوﺗﺼﺮف اﻟﺤﻴﻮاﻧﺎت ّاﻟﺒﺮﻳﺔ ﻻ ﻳﻤﻜﻨﻪ اﻻ أن ﻳﺜﻖ، وﻟﻮ ﻟﻤﺮة واﺣﺪة، ﺑﺄداﺋﻬﺎ. ﺑﻮدي اﻟﻴﻮم ﻟﺪﻳﻬﺎ ﺛﻌﻠﺒﺎن ﺑﺤﺠﻤﻬﺎ، ﻓﺒﺘﻨﺎ ﻻ ﻧﻌﻠﻢ ﻣﻦ ﻳﺰور اﻟﺪﻳﺮ، ﻫﻲ ام أﺣﺪ وﻟﺪﻳﻬﺎ. ّﻟﻜﻦ اﻷﻫﻢ ﻫﻮ ّأن ﻫﺬا اﻟﺤﻴﻮان ﻻ ﻳﻀﻤﺮ ّاﻟﺸﺮ ﻟﻺﻧﺴﺎن. أﺧﻴﺮا ﻟﻴﺲ ﻫﻨﺎك ّأي ﺣﻴﻮان ﻓﻲ ﻟﺒﻨﺎن ﻳﻔﺘﺮس اﻹﻧﺴﺎن، ﺣﺘّ ﻰ اﻟﺬﺋﺎب واﻟﻀﺒﺎع. ﻓﻬﻲ ﺑﺎﻟﻐﺮﻳﺰة ﻻ ﺗﻌﺘﺒﺮ اﻹﻧﺴﺎن ﻣﻦ ّأوﻟﻮﻳﺎﺗﻬﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻗﺎﺋﻤﺔ اﻷﻃﻌﻤﺔ اﻟﻴﻮﻣﻴﺔ اﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﺒﻘﻴﻬﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻗﻴﺪ اﻟﺤﻴﺎة.

Photo: Chadi Ghajar page 11 Community Development

Cultural and Archaeological Heritage on the LMT Alia Fares

Photo: Nadine Weber Cleaning activities at the Church of Mar Sarkis wa Bakhos, Aakkar el Aatika, in collaboration with the Maronite Church of Aakkar and the Qoubaiyat Municipality

The cultural and heritage sites are abundant and diverse in Lebanon. Photo: Christian Akhrass Visitors can encounter old churches, Roman Temples, historic tombs, More than 40 volunteers cleaning the Citadel of the Emirs Chehab, citadels, historic inscriptions, old mills, heritage houses and many Hasbaiya, in collaboration with the Foundation for the Conservation of others. Unfortunately many of these sites are gradually degrading the Citadel of the Emirs Chehab because of human neglect or due to natural factors. They all require urgent attention and protection by the local communities, responsible organizations, local authorities and ministries, and before they are lost forever. Within its mission to conserve cultural heritage on the trailside, the LMTA has taken on the task of documenting the sites on the trailside and on suggesting measures to conserve them. Mapping of sites has started. Recommended conservation measures will be implemented gradually with local communities and informative panels will be installed at a few selected locations. The work is being done under the technical supervision of an archaeologist and in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Culture, the Directorate General of Antiquities (DGA), and the local municipalities. This initiative started during the LMT 2015 Thru Walk in April. Photo: Nadine Weber Hikers and volunteers from the local communities Cleaning at the Afqa Roman Temple, in collaboration with the Afqa stopped at four sites on the LMT: the church of Municipality. Mar Sarkis wa Bakhos in Aakkar el Aatika, the Afqa Roman Temple, the Hadrian Inscription in Tannourine and the Citadel of the Emirs Chehab in Hasbaiya. Did you know that back in the 2nd Century Participants discovered the history of these sites (117-138) AD, the Roman Emperor Hadrian and participated in cleaning activities in a symbolic imposed a decree to manage the forests in the attempt to shed the light on the importance of Lebanese mountains? these sites and the urgency of preserving them. Today, hundreds of Roman inscriptions are Thanks to all those who contributed to the Thru scattered around the slopes of Mt Lebanon from Sannine to Hermel, including Nahr Walk on-site activities and to those who donated Ibrahim and the mountains of Kesrouane and to the Razoo fundraising campaign launched Tannourine as a witness of such initiative. during the Thru Walk to support the LMTA’s Carved into the rocks and with different heritage sites project. epigraphic ratings, numbers and formulas depending on the rock they are carved into and the vegetation and region where they are, the inscriptions forbid the citizens to cut down juniper, oak, cedar and pine trees. They also reminded the indigenous of the right of the emperor on these forests. ﺑﻘﻠﻢ اﻟﺴﻴﺪة ﻛﺎرﻻ ﺷﻬﺎب، رﺋﻴﺴﺔ ّاﻟﻤﺆﺳﺴﺔ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻤﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺳﺮاﻳﺎ اﻷﻣﺮاء By Mrs. Carla Chehab, President of the Lebanese Foundation for the اﻟﺸﻬﺎﺑﻴﻴﻦ ﻓﻲ ﺣﺎﺻﺒﻴﺎ Preservation of the Emirs Chehab Citadel – Hasbaiya

وإذا أﻫﻤﻠﻨﺎ اﻟﺘﺎرﻳﺦ ﻓﺎﻟﻤﺴﺘﻘﺒﻞ ﻳﻬﻤﻠﻨﺎ! If we neglect our past, the» -ﻛﻠﻮﻓﻴﺲ ﻣﻘﺼﻮد «.future will neglect us - Clovis Maksoud

ﻓﻲ ّﺣﺎﺻﺒﻴﺎ ﻗﻠﻌﺔ ﺗﺮﻗﺪ ﻓﻴﻬﺎ ﻋﺼﻮر اﻟﺘﺎرﻳﺦ ﻣﻨﺬ ﻋﻬﺪ اﻟﺮوﻣﺎن. In Hasbaiya, lays a castle from the times of the Romans. The Emirs اﺳﺘﻮﻟﻰ ﻋﻠﻴﻬﺎ ّاﻟﺸﻬﺎﺑﻴﻮن ﻓﻲ اﻟﻘﺮن اﻟﺜﺎﻧﻲ ﻋﺸﺮ، ﺑﻌﺪ ﻣﻌﺎرك Chehab seized it after fierce battles against the Crusaders in the twelfth century, and lived in it thereafter. It remained the centre of ﺿﺎرﻳﺔ ّﺿﺪ ّاﻟﺼﻠﻴﺒﻴﻴﻦ، وﺳﻜﻨﻮﻫﺎ. وﻃﻮال ﺳﺒﻌﻤﺌﺔ ﺳﻨﺔ ﻛﺎﻧﺖ ﻣﺮﻛﺰ their power over the region for seven centuries, during which they ﺣﻜﻤﻬﻢ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘﺔ. ﻓﺄﻋﺎدوا ﺑﻨﺎءﻫﺎ ًﺟﻴﻼ ﺑﻌﺪ ﺟﻴﻞ، ﻓﺄﺻﺒﺤﺖ rebuilt it several times, until it became an important archaeological ﻛﻨﺰً ا ًّأﺛﺮﻳﺎ ًّﻫﺎﻣﺎ ﻳﺤﺘﻀﻦ اﻟﺤﻀﺎرات ّاﻟﺼﻠﻴﺒﻴﺔ ّواﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ ّواﻷﻳ ّﻮﺑﻴﺔ treasure embracing Crusaders, Arabs, Ayyubid, Mamlouk and ّواﻟﻤﻤﻠﻮﻛﻴﺔ ّواﻟﻌﺜﻤﺎﻧﻴﺔ. .Ottoman remains

ّ ,The castle is part of an archaeological site of 20,000 square meters اﻟﻘﻠﻌﺔ ﺟﺰء ﻣﻦ ﻣﻮﻗﻊ ّأﺛﺮي ّﻳﻤﺘﺪ ﻋﻠﻰ ٢٠٠٠٠ ﻣﺘﺮ ّﻣﺮﺑﻊ ﻳﺘﺄﻟﻒ ﻣﻦ which includes houses dating back to the Middle Ages, khans and a ﻣﺴﺎﻛﻦ ﺗﻌﻮد إﻟﻰ اﻟﻘﺮون اﻟﻮﺳﻄﻰ، وﺧﺎﻧﺎت، وﺟﺎﻣﻊ ﻳﻌﻮد ﺗﺎرﻳﺨﻪ mosque built in the twelfth century, topped by a superb minaret of إﻟﻰ اﻟﻘﺮن اﻟﺜﺎﻧﻲ ﻋﺸﺮ ﺗﻌﻠﻮه ﻣﺌﺬﻧﺔ راﺋﻌﺔ ّﺳﺪاﺳﻴﺔ اﻟﺸﻜﻞ. .an hexagonal shape

اﻧﻄﻠﻖ اﻷﻣﺮاء ّاﻟﺸﻬﺎﺑﻴﻮن ﻣﻦ اﻟﻘﻠﻌﺔ إﻟﻰ ﺣﻜﻢ ﺟﺒﻞ ﻟﺒﻨﺎن وأﺑﺮزﻫﻢ ,It’s from the citadel that the Modern History of Lebanon began when, in the 18th century, Emir Haidar Chehab and Emir Melhem اﻷﻣﻴﺮ ﺣﻴﺪر واﻷﻣﻴﺮ ﻣﻠﺤﻢ واﻷﻣﻴﺮ ﺑﺸﻴﺮ اﻟﺜﺎﻧﻲ اﻟﻜﺒﻴﺮ اﻟﺬي ّﺷﻴﺪ ﻓﻲ .Chehab started their journey to govern Mount Lebanon اﻟﻘﺮن اﻟﺘﺎﺳﻊ ﻋﺸﺮ ﻗﺼﺮ ﺑﻴﺖ اﻟﺪﻳﻦ. In the year 2000, under the supervision of the Directorate General ﻋﺎم ٢٠٠٠ ﺷﻜّﻠﺖ اﻷﻣﻴﺮة ﻛﺎرﻻ ﺷﻬﺎب « ّاﻟﻤﺆﺳﺴﺔ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﺔ of Antiquities (DGA) at the Ministry of Culture in Lebanon, the ﻟﻠﻤﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺳﺮاﻳﺎ اﻷﻣﺮاء ّاﻟﺸﻬﺎﺑﻴﻴﻦ ﻓﻲ ّﺣﺎﺻﺒﻴﺎ» ﺑﺈﺷﺮاف Lebanese Foundation for the Preservation of the Emirs Chehab Citadel in Hasbaiya was established to highlight the national, ّﻣﺪﻳﺮﻳﺔ اﻵﺛﺎر اﻟﺘﺎﺑﻌﺔ ﻟﻮزارة اﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻟﺒﻨﺎن، ﻟﺘﺴﻠﻴﻂ اﻟﻀﻮء ﻋﻠﻰ cultural and touristic importance of the site. The DGA then funded ّأﻫﻤﻴﺔ اﻟﻘﻠﻌﺔ ّاﻟﻮﻃﻨﻴﺔ ّواﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻴﺔ ّواﻟﺴﻴﺎﺣﻴﺔ. ّوﻣﻮﻟﺖ ّﻣﺪﻳﺮﻳﺔ اﻵﺛﺎر a study to assess the situation of the citadel and identify priorities to دراﺳﺔ ﻟﻮﺿﻊ اﻟﻘﻠﻌﺔ ّواﻷوﻟﻮﻳﺎت اﻟﺘﻲ ﻳﺠﺐ ﺗﻨﻔﻴﺬﻫﺎ. وﻓﻲ ﺣﺰﻳﺮان work on. In June 2005, the site was added to the list of the World ٢٠٠٥ أﺿﻴﻔﺖ اﻟﻘﻠﻌﺔ إﻟﻰ ﻻﺋﺤﺔ الWorld Monuments Funds ﻓﻲ Monuments Funds in New York, among the one hundred most ﻧﻴﻮﻳﻮرك اﻟﺘﻲ ّﺗﻀﻢ اﻟﻤﻮاﻗﻊ ّاﻷﺛﺮﻳﺔ اﻟﻤﺌﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻢ اﻷﻛﺜﺮ ًﺗﻬﺪﻳﺪا .endangered sites that need to be preserved around the World ﺑﺎﻻﻧﻬﻴﺎر، واﻟﺘﻲ ﻳﺠﺐ اﻟﻤﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ ﻋﻠﻴﻬﺎ. Today, in 2015, the stones of the citadel remain powerless in front of the erosion of time, with funds lacking to restore it and keep it in اﻟﻴﻮم، وﻓﻲ ﺳﻨﺔ ٢٠١٥، ﺗﻈﻞّ أﺣﺠﺎر اﻟﻘﻠﻌﺔ ﻋﺎﺟﺰة أﻣﺎم ﺗﺂﻛﻞ اﻟﺰﻣﻦ، .the memory of both Lebanese and Arab historical heritage وﻳﻨﻘﺺ اﻟﺘﻤﻮﻳﻞ ﻹﻧﻘﺎذﻫﺎ ﻛﻲ ﺗﻌﻴﺪ ﻣﻜﺎﻧﺘﻬﺎ اﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﺴﺘﺤﻖّ ﻓﻲ ذاﻛﺮة ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﻴﻦ وﻓﻲ اﻟﺘﺮاث ّاﻟﺘﺎرﻳﺨﻲ ّاﻟﻌﺮﺑﻲ. Just like many other endangered archaeological sites along the Lebanon Mountain Trail, the citadel urgently needs our care and the attention of authorities and officials concerned. اﻟﻘﻠﻌﺔ، ﻣﺜﻠﻬﺎ ﻣﺜﻞ اﻟﻜﺜﻴﺮ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻤﻮاﻗﻊ ّاﻷﺛﺮﻳﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ، ﺑﺤﺎﺟﺔ ﻟﻼﻫﺘﻤﺎم ﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻠﻨﺎ وﻣﻦ ﻗﺒﻞ اﻟﺴﻠﻄﺎت واﻟﻤﺴﺆوﻟﻴﻦ.

page 13 Maisons d’hôtes: quoi de neuf? Salam Khalife

Une nouvelle maison d’hôtes sur le LMT! Celle de Philippe Germanos et famille, située à Mechdel (Aaqoura), entre deux très belles sections du LMT: Tannourine-Aaqoura (10) et Aaqoura-Afqa (11). Un lieu accueillant, spacieux et confortable, de style hacienda. Vous pourrez y amener vos amis ou votre famille pour découvrir la région et participer à des activités d’agritourisme organisées par Philippe. Aaqoura est un joli village connu pour ses nombreuses églises, ses vergers, ses falaises et ses grottes, dont la plus connue est celle de Roueiss. Pour un séjour chez Philippe contactez le au +961 3 943 420 ou [email protected]. Capacité 10 à 12 personnes.

Photo: Martine Btaich

Toujours à Aaqoura, une maison d’hôte qui vaut le détour: celle de Sayed et Bouchra Hachem, vieille de plus de 120 ans. Ils seront ravis d’accueillir et de vous raconter l’histoire du village. Spécialités de la maîtresse de maison à ne pas manquer: “Tbaybisseh et Kebbet Batata bi Jozz“ qui sont un véritable régal. Tous les produits qu’ils proposent, y compris l’arak, viennent de leur propre production. Cette année, leur maison bénéficie du programme de soutien de maisons d’hôtes de la LMTA. La remise en état et le renforcement des structures et des sols de la maison ont déjà commencé. Vous pouvez contactez Sayed et Bouchra sur +961 3 144 273. Capacités 8 à 12 personnes sur matelas Photo: Martine Btaich

Plus au Sud, à Rachaiya, venez découvrir la maison d’hôtes de Mehdi Fayek qui vous accueillera avec son épouse de façon si spontanée et généreuse que vous ne pourrez oublier ce magnifique village au pied du Mont Hermon. Mehdi est agriculteur, instituteur et guide local. Il vous fera découvrir Rachaiya, village aux nombreux toits en tuiles et ses maisons historiques. Une occasion de découvrir trois sections du LMT de la Beqaa Sud: Aaitanit-Rachaiya (23-24) et de Rachaiya-Hasbaiya (25). La cuisine proposée est authentique et raffinée. Vous pouvez contacter Mehdi au +961 3 963 378. Capacité 13 personnes avec lits superposés Photo: Martine Btaich

Nos sponsors Grâce au soutien de Dar al-Handasah, trois à quatre maisons, réparties dans différentes régions, pourront cette année être partiellement restaurées afin de répondre aux critères de qualité définis par la LMTA.

Merci également à tous nos fidèles sponsors sans lesquels rien ne serait possible : Reva pour les matelas, Key Architects pour les sanitaires, Vitral pour l’Aluminium, Al Bina et Solarnet pour les panneaux solaires. Merci à tous ceux et celles qui veulent nous aider: nos besoins sont nombreux… nous comptons sur votre générosité!

Spotlight on a local guide on the LMT Martine Btaich ّﺗﻌﺮﻓﻮا إﻟﻰ ﻣﻬﺪي ﻓﺎﻳﻖ، ﻣﺮﺷﺪﻛﻢ ﻋﻠﻰ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ ﺑﻴﻦ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺘَ ﻲ ّراﺷﻴﺎ ّوﺣﺎﺻﺒﻴﺎ، ﻣﺴﺎر رﻗﻢ ٢٤-٢٥ ﻣﻬﺪي ﻣﻦ ﻣﻮاﻟﻴﺪ ١٩٧٢، ّراﺷﻴﺎ، اﻟﺒﻘﺎع. وﻗﺪ ﺑﺪأ رﺣﻠﺘﻪ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺴﻴﺎﺣﺔ ّاﻟﺮﻳﻔﻴﺔ ﺳﻨﺔ ١٩٩٦، وﺳﺎﻫﻢ ﻓﻲ رﺳﻢ اﻟﺪرب ﻓﻲ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺘﻪ ﻣﻊ ﻓﺮﻳﻖ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ ﺑﻴﻦ ٢٠٠٦ و٢٠٠٧. ّﺗﺪرب ﻣﻬﺪي ﻋﻠﻰ أﺻﻮل اﻹرﺷﺎد ّاﻟﺴﻴﺎﺣﻲ ﺿﻤﻦ ﺑﺮﻧﺎﻣﺞ ّﺗﺪرﻳﺒﻲ ﻗﺎﻣﺖ ﺑﻪ ّﺟﻤﻌﻴﺔ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ. إﻧّ ﻪ ﻣﺰارع وﻣﻮﻇّ ﻒ ﻓﻲ ّﺛﺎﻧﻮﻳﺔ ﺣﺮﻣﻮن، ﻳﻌﺸﻖ ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺘﻪ وﻫﻮ ّﻣﻠﻢ ﺑﺘﺎرﻳﺨﻬﺎ وﺛﻘﺎﻓﺘﻬﺎ وﻃﺒﻴﻌﺘﻬﺎ. ﻧﺎﺷﻂ ّاﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﻲ ﺑﺎﻣﺘﻴﺎز، ﻳﺤﺮص ﻋﻠﻰ إﻓﺎدة ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺘﻪ وﻻ ﻳﻮﻓّ ﺮ ّأﻳﺔ ﻓﺮﺻﺔ ﻟﻠﻤﺴﺎﻫﻤﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺸﺎرﻳﻊ ﺗﻔﻴﺪ أﻫﻞ ّراﺷﻴﺎ وﺳﻴﺎﺣﺘﻬﺎ. ﻳﺴﺘﻤﺘﻊ اﻟﺰاﺋﺮ ﺑﺤﺴﻦ ﺿﻴﺎﻓﺘﻪ ﻫﻮ وزوﺟﺘﻪ وأوﻻده، ﻓﻲ ﺑﻴﺘﻪ اﻟﺬي ّﺣﻮﻟﻪ إﻟﻰ ﺑﻴﺖ ﺿﻴﺎﻓﺔ، وﺑﺤﻤﺎﺳﻪ ﻓﻲ إرﺷﺎده وإﻃﻼﻋﻪ ﻋﻠﻰ ّاﻟﺘﻨﻮع ّاﻟﺜﻘﺎﻓﻲ ّواﻟﻨﺒﺎﺗﻲ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﺴﺎر راﺋﻊ ﺑﻴﻦ اﻟﺒﺴﺎﺗﻴﻦ واﻟﻘﺮى وﻣﻨﺤﺪرات ﺟﺒﻞ ﺣﺮﻣﻮن اﻟﻤﻌﺮوف أﻳﻀً ﺎ ﺑﺠﺒﻞ اﻟﺸﻴﺦ. وﺑﺎﻹﺿﺎﻓﺔ إﻟﻰ اﻟﻤﺸﻲ، ﻳﺒﻘﻰ رﻛﻮب اﻟﺨﻴﻞ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﺔ ﻣﻦ ﻫﻮاﻳﺎت ﻣﻬﺪي اﻟﻤﻔﻀّ ﻠﺔ. ﻻﺳﺘﻜﺸﺎف ﻣﻨﻄﻘﺔ ّراﺷﻴﺎ وﻣﺴﺎر ٢٤ – ٢٥ ﻋﻠﻰ درب اﻟﺠﺒﻞ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ، ﻳﻤﻜﻨﻜﻢ اﻻﺗّ ﺼﺎل ﺑﻤﻬﺪي ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺮﻗﻢ ٩٦٣٣٧٨-٠٣ ﻧﻬﺎر ﻛﺎﻣﻞ ﻣﻘﺎﺑﻞ ١٠٠,٠٠٠ ل.ل (٦٦$)، ﻧﺼﻒ ﻧﻬﺎر ﻣﻘﺎﺑﻞ ٧٥,٠٠٠ ل.ل.(٥٠$).

Photo: Christian Akhrass Photo: Stephanie Mailhac

Trail To Every Classroom Stephanie Mailhac Une des missions de la LMTA est d’inciter en rapport avec l’eau (cycle, pollution, à un changement de comportement en ressources, usage, préservation). développant des programmes d’éducation D’une part en explorant certaines ciblés et de sensibilisation du public. sources d’eau sur le LMT, et d’autre C’est pourquoi le comité en charge de part grâce à un jeu éducatif interactif l’éducation a développé le programme sur l’eau développé par notre équipe “un sentier pour chaque classe” (A d’éducation. Trail To Every Classroom “TTEC”). Ce Plusieurs sorties sur le terrain ont programme a pour but de promouvoir aussi été organisées pour les élèves en un comportement environnemental et présence d’un guide local formé par la un éveil écologique auprès des enfants LMTA. Leur faire découvrir la section libanais en profitant du LMT comme du LMT qui passe par leur village et les source d’apprentissage. Ce programme responsabiliser sur sa préservation en les fournit aux enseignants les outils sensibilisant à la richesse du patrimoine nécessaires aux activités réalisables sur le naturel qu’ils ont à leur porte est aussi LMT. L’objectif global de ce projet est de un des buts du projet. couvrir toutes les écoles publiques situées dans les villages le long du LMT. Un projet pilote a déjà été mis en place en avril dernier dans deux écoles publiques à Falougha et Kfardebiane. Il a permis aux enseignants d’intégrer dans leur programme scolaire le module développé l’année dernière par la LMTA sur la sensibilisation à l’eau “WAT project”. Les élèves ont pu renforcer leurs connaissances sur tous les sujets Photo: Stephanie Mailhac

page 15 Education

Abtal el Bi’a: Our new Environmental Championship Program Maya Karkour

The Environmental Championship Program “ECP” is an innovative environmental education program for children and the successful result of a collaborative effort between the LMTA and EcoConsulting. It consists in organizing 5-day environmental awareness and sustainable living programs and engaging children from diverse ethnic, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds in joint social-environmental action. It is built on the concept of experiential learning, with hands-on, fun, and creative activities aiming to give children a clear understanding of the full loop that is our supporting ecosystem. Our objective is to empower those children by giving them the title of “Environmental Champions” and inspiring them to become stewards of our planet in a pro- active way: protecting nature, acting sensibly about eco-issues, communicating around them the important environmental messages… Three programs were undertaken so far this year, in April, July and September with 38 kids in total. We let the children describe what they have learned in their own unbeatable way! The following themes were approached day by day: Nature exploration & protection; the web of life and how everything is connected; water scarcity; water & sea pollution; responsible hunting & fishing; our food; eco-friendly houses; waste, recycling, up-cycling, and composting. page 17 Photo: Béatrice Le Bon Chami page 19 News

Interview with The LMTA is working towards bringing more attention to endangered cultural and archaeological sites on the LMT and to Dr. Rawiya Majzoub contribute to their conservation in collaboration with local and national stakeholders. Barakeh Martine Btaich Following this theme, the LMTA met with Dr. Rawiya Majzoub Director of the Center of Higher and Specialized Studies in Restoration and Conservation of Barakeh, a passionate and active woman striving to bring more Monuments and Historical Sites expertise and higher standards to the classification and restoration at the Lebanese University of historic monuments in Lebanon. With a Doctorate in the History of Arts and Archaeology from the Sorbonne, and a Doctorate in History and Civilization from Lyon, France, Dr. Majzoub, reached out to the specialized school of Chaillot in France, the French Ministry Dr. Majzoub has been recently appointed at the head of the of Foreign Affairs, and La Sapienza University in Rome to initiate Lebanon committee of the International Council for Monuments the “Center of Higher and Specialized Studies in Restoration and and Sites, ICOMOS, the NGO working towards the conservation Conservation of Monuments and Historical Sites” at the Lebanese of the world›s monuments and sites University in Tripoli. The center is one of its kind in the region; and since its establishment in 1995, the two-year “Mastère” program has trained more than 80 architects and civil engineers the proper restoration of historic monuments and sites.

“Sometimes even with good intentions we can do more harm to historic monuments while trying to preserve them… restoration is a complete science apart”, says Dr. Majzoub. Experts and lecturers from Chaillot, Rome, and other specialized schools in France come to share their experiences with the Lebanese professionals enrolled in the program.

Since its creation, the center of restoration, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the Directorate General of Antiquities and the Municipality of Tripoli have covered many projects in the old Tripoli like the rehabilitation of Souk Haraj (funds from the German Government); Khan el Asskar (funds from the World Bank) and the beautiful and colorful Hammam Ezzeddine. Research studies included “Khan el Massryeen”, “el Mawlawya”, “el Msseilha fort” in Batroun, the Monastery of Bkiftine in Koura, and other sites around Lebanon.

The interest and the work on Tripoli’s heritage sites started even before the creation of the center. Believing in Tripoli as “an important historical nucleus” (known namely for the architectural heritage from the Mamluk era), Dr. Majzoub launched with professionals, the municipality and stakeholders several pilot projects around the city, including, in 1995, a twinning project with the French municipality of Midi-Pyrenees to rehabilitate part of the Jewelers Market (Souk el Sayyagheen).

Hammam Ezzedine- old Tripoli To date, the work of Dr. Majzoub with the students, and the Photo: Dr Rawiya Majzoub different stakeholders, has contributed to the classification of more than 164 monuments in Tripoli on the list of the local heritage.

Dr. Majzoub is concerned by the growing destruction and degradation of important cultural and historic heritage in Lebanon and the region that constitute the roots of our civilizations. “There are many historic sites including the mountains that need more attention and protection in Lebanon.” There is a need to enforce laws and for more responsiveness from the local authorities and municipalities. Her advice is to 1) map out and classify such endangered sites, 2) work to stop their degradation, 3) protect and maintain them, 4) restore and raise awareness among local Khan el Asskar- old Tripoli Souk Haraj- old Tripoli communities and authorities to save what is left in the country. Photo: Dr Rawiya Majzoub Photo: Dr Rawiya Majzoub She also believes that one way for conserving monuments is the acquisition of historic monuments by the government to protect and use them for public functions.

Hopefully LMTA’s project can benefit from such initiatives to pursue its mission in promoting the cultural and historical heritage in Lebanon’s mountains. Membership

First Honorary LMTA Membership to Mr. Joseph Ghaleb Karam Karim el Jisr

The LMTA currently has four types of memberships: Regular, Supportive, Adrian Life, and Honorary. The Honorary Membership is bestowed by the LMTA Board of Directors upon an individual who has provided exceptional service or made special contributions to the Association. Accordingly, on December 15, 2014, the LMTA Board of Directors presented its first Honorary Membership to Mr. Joseph Ghaleb Karam for his extraordinary service and contribution to the LMT. A visionary leader dedicated to conserving Lebanon’s heritage and natural resources, Mr. Karam conceived the idea of the LMT and, as President of ECODIT, secured funding from USAID/ Lebanon to implement the LMT Project in 2005. He served as the Officer-in-Charge for the Project from 2005 to 2008 and worked with a committed team of Lebanese professionals and activists to successfully implement project components. These included delineating the trail, establishing and refurbishing guesthouses along the trail, training local guides, and working with municipalities to foster project buy-in, among others. To ensure project sustainability, Mr. Karam also led the establishment of the LMTA in 2007 and later, in January 2009, spearheaded the establishment of the American Friends of the Lebanon Mountain Trail (AFLMT) in Washington, DC, as a non-profit organization. He currently serves as the President of the AFLMT and works with a dedicated Board of The LMTA would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Directors to mobilize financial support and promote awareness of Karam for his continued exceptional support to the LMT and the LMT in the U.S. To date, the AFLMT has awarded several grants his contributions to Lebanon’s nature and heritage. Indeed, to the LMTA worth a total of $50,000. Mr. Karam also continues to there is no one more deserving of this first honorary LMTA support the LMTA through ECODIT, which sponsored in 2010 the book A Million Steps, and in 2014 the first annual LMTA Gala Event. membership than Mr. Karam. *ﻳﺤﻖ ﻟﻠﻬﻴﺌﺔ اﻹدارﻳﺔ ﻣﻨﺢ اﻟﻌﻀﻮﻳﺔ اﻟﻔﺨﺮﻳﺔ ﻟﻠﺸﺨﺺ اﻟﺬي ﻳﻜﻮن ﻗﺪ ّﻗﺪم ﻟﻠﺠﻤﻌﻴﺔ ﺧﺪﻣﺎت أو ﻫﺒـﺎت ﺧﺎﺻـﺔ و إﺳﺘﺜﻨﺎﺋﻴﺔ (اﻟﻨﻈــﺎم اﻷﺳﺎﺳـــﻲ : اﻟﻤﺎدة اﻟﺘﺎﺳــﻌﺔ - اﻹﻧﺘﺴﺎب اﻟﻰ اﻟﺠﻤﻌﻴﺔ)

page 21 Events

THRU-WALK - April 2015

The LMTA organized its 7th annual Thru-Walk as a world-class travel destination and to which began on April 4, 2015 in Andqet, Aakkar consolidate support for the trail’s long-term in the north and ended on May 3rd, 2015, in protection. Marjaayoun in the south. Hiking all 27 sections This unique annual event also highlights the LMTA of the LMT, hikers passed through more than 75 ongoing commitment: villages at altitudes ranging from 600 to 2,000 • To remind us of the need to protect our heritage meters above sea level. • To support rural economies in trailside The Launching Ceremony was held in Andqet on communities April 4 under the Patronage of the Ministry of • To promote responsible tourism as a viable Tourism and in the presence of the Minister, H.E. economic activity Mr. Michel Pharaon, with the collaboration of the Photo: Nadine Weber Local communities along the trail played a major Municipality of Andqet. role during the course of this 30-day journey: The objectives of this event were to promote hikers slept and ate in local guesthouses and well- Lebanon in general and the LMT more specifically trained local guides led the hikers on the trail.

Highlights of the April 2015 Thru Walk:

30-day journey 170 hikers 13 different nationalities 830 overnight reservations 40 guesthouses 13 local guides 53,000 USD spent in local communities 16 events hosted by municipalities along the trail

Photo: Adib Hachem

The 9 Thru Hikers 2015 from left: Christian, Carla, Darnell, Dima, Sami, In addition to the fall, I had to contend with more, but less serious, Joseph, Mary Angela, Souad and Desmond physical setbacks. I developed an array of blisters on both feet, a black toenail, and a twisted ankle. It really felt like I was doomed but this only made me all the more determined to not let anything stop Thru-Walk 2015, a Life-Altering me. Call it stubbornness, call it determination, call it foolishness, but I had set a goal and I was going to reach it no matter what. So what Journey Dr Mary Angela Willis kept me going? When I first heard about the LMT, I wanted to discover that side of For one, with each passing day, the bond shared with the other Lebanon, the Lebanon that is still preserved in all its beauty but that Thru Hikers grew stronger and stronger. These eight people were is on the brink of extinction. I took time off work before moving complete strangers to me but for 30 days we shared this experience, abroad and, despite being physically unfit, I registered for the Thru spending all our time together, looking out for each other, sharing Hike. Hiking the LMT was my way of saying goodbye to Lebanon a home for the night, eating together, laughing together and and discovering so much more about the country that I loved. comforting each other when we needed a boost. These guys have Everything went just fine during the first 76 km until Section 4 of forged a space in my heart where they now reside. the LMT when I fell. An x-ray later, plus 3 days of rest, a knee brace, and a daily cocktail of painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication, I joined the hike again. Every step felt like agony but nothing was going to stop me. I was good to go. Another thing that kept me going was the warm welcome we For a month, I discovered countless hidden treasures in the beauty received at every guesthouse at the end of the day. These families of Lebanon’s mountains and its people. Today, with a heavy heart, who welcomed us into their homes and looked after us to make I leave this country I’ve called home but I know that one day I will sure we were comfortable, well rested, and well fed. The warmth return and retrace my footsteps from Andqet to Marjaayoun. In and care shown by these families sustained me throughout the hike. the meantime, my message to you is this: if I can do it, you can too. What also kept me going was the sheer beauty of the landscape, day after day. For such a small country it’s astounding how no And if you do hike the LMT, then count yourself very two days were alike. We walked through forests, across meadows fortunate for experiencing a life-altering journey carpeted with wild flowers and through deep verdant valleys, where you’ll discover so much about yourself, about fields of wheat, orchards filled with flowering fruit trees, past others, and about this magnificent country. gushing springs, and, of course, up and down rolling hills and steep mountain ridges. So go hike the LMT! After a few weeks of hiking, a shift happens that is hard to explain. My brain stopped buzzing and everything seemed still within me. I felt a lightness. Don’t get me wrong; I still struggled up steep hills, but my days started beating to a different rhythm, a much simpler one. I felt more alive and more in tune to the rhythm of nature. This transformation can’t be explained with words but I feel privileged Photo Contest and humbled to have experienced it. After all, what can be more natural than being in nature? The TW2015 Photo Contest was opened by the LMTA to the 2015 Once we reached Marjaayoun, our final destination, I can’t Thru-Walk hikers for the best photo or series of photos that bring to adequately describe my conflicting emotions of euphoria, disbelief, life the rich and diverse cultural heritage of Lebanon on the LMT. relief, sadness, and a huge sense of accomplishment. I had discovered a new sense of pride in my body, a body that proved Categories: stronger than I had ever imagined. I also realized that it’s true what 1- Tangible Cultural Heritage: Archaeological temples and they say about the power of mind over body; that if you have ruins, religious monuments, old mills, old silk factories, historic the will, you can overcome obstacles. Pain and discomfort are inscriptions, important historic houses, etc. temporary; they fade eventually, but facing fear head on pushing 2- Local Community or Intangible Cultural Heritage as oral on despite utter exhaustion and pain, exerting mind over body- or traditions, performing arts, rituals, etc. rather the two working in sync, pushing oneself beyond one’s limits and succeeding because of sheer determination thanks to the The award ceremony was held at Travel Lebanon/Garden Show on encouragement of dear friends and brilliant guides: that will always Friday, May 29, where the winning photos were exhibited for five stay with me forever. days.

We thank our sponsor NIKON (Gulbenk Trading Co.) for supporting the photo contest for 1st Prize: «4th Generation Jlel» the second year. by Lyna Comaty and Georges Abou Adal

2nd Prize: «One Trail» by Souad 3rd Prize: «Women of Andqet» Sbaiti by Mary-Angela Willis

page 23 Next Hiking Event: Fall Trek 2015 Save the date: October 14 to October 25.

One team will start in Qozhaya in the North and another in Aaitanit in the South. The two teams will hike for 10 days and meet in Baskinta on Saturday October 24 to celebrate the Baskinta Literary Trail (BLT). The closing ceremony will be under the Patronage of the Ministry of Culture and in the presence of the Minister, H.E. Mr. Roni Araiji. On Sunday, October 25, the hikers will ascend Sannine Summit.

Photo: Jean Stephan Photo: Nadine Weber

Photo: Nadine Weber Book Reviews Native trees of Lebanon and neighboring countries: A guidebook for professionals and amateurs By Elsa Sattout and Hala Zahreddine.

The book provides a comprehensive study of the 68 tree species found in Lebanon and the eastern Mediterranean region. It is an important resource for biodiversity academics and enthusiasts alike. It encourages the protection and growth of native tree species, promoting their use in home gardens, parks, public gardens, and streetscapes along with reforestation projects. It discusses native trees and their importance in the Middle Eastern region. Along with rich color photographs, the book introduces forests and people in the eastern Mediterranean context and provides detailed information about each species including a botanical description, information on ecology including bird visitors, conservation status and actions, and traditional uses of trees and their cultural values in myths and folktales. It presents propagation methods along with the flowering and fruiting season for each tree. A photo guide, especially for amateurs, is annexed to the book with a map displaying the distribution of the trees and Lebanese nature reserves as well as an infographic on the distribution of the tree species along the different vegetation zones defined in Lebanon. The latter shows the range of growth/plantation of the 68 tree species in Lebanon. In additional annexes, the book includes a glossary of the technical and scientific terms used and a section displaying botanical illustrations of the key characteristics for identification of trees.

Trees of Lebanon By Salma Talhouk

To encourage people to engage in tree planting and support forest and woodland conservation, AUB Professor, Salma N. Talhouk, and a number of collaborators have published Trees of Lebanon, a bilingual manual that explains how to grow trees from seeds, while highlighting the historical importance of the native trees of Lebanon. The book contains interesting and little known facts such as the first international endeavor to save the forests of Lebanon in 1876 by Queen Victoria of England. This resulted in the construction of a protective wall around the ancient cedar trees of Bcharre-Al Arz that still exists today and is a popular sightseeing destination. The book details how to collect and care for the seeds of each type of tree, and where and how to plant them. Written in both Arabic and English, the book includes information on 40 different types of trees, which constitute the majority of local trees found in Lebanon. Talhouk’s coauthors and collaborators include, among others: Mariana M. Yazbek who researched formal and informal sources; Khaled Sleem, an agricultural engineer who made frequent trips to photograph the trees during various seasons; Arbi J. Sarkissian who compiled information about each and every tree; Mohammad S. Al- Zein who worked on developing the Tree Key which helps identify the trees; and Sakra Abo Eid who helped care for all the trees written about in the book. The book is available in the LMTA Office

page 25 LMTA Overseas

Meet our Ambassadors!

In April 2015 the LMTA launched its Ambassador Program to initiate interest in the LMT overseas and to promote active involvement of the diaspora community and foreigners in the respective countries where they reside.

Rend Haffar (Belgium) Wafa El Osta (Canada) Desmond Astley-Cooper (England) After completing his secondary Wafa El Osta is committed to Desmond Astley-Cooper began studies in Lebanon and working in sustainable tourism. his professional life as a journalist Africa and the Middle East, Rend She has initiated many successful but has since worked as a banker Haffar settled in Belgium. Rend tourism projects in Lebanon and for over thirty years both in was introduced to the LMTA in abroad, most recently in Costa Rica. London and the Gulf. These 2008/2009 through an article in the Building on natural and cultural days he is involved in financing newspaper l’Orient Le Jour. He has heritage conservation, she believes low carbon start-up companies, hiked along the LMT every year in supporting local communities a field where his own personal since 2012 and has crossed all the to take stewardship of their land interests increasingly lie. As a keen LMT sections, more than once. It is and contribute to sustainable ecologist, he believes strongly in an opportunity for him to return destination development. She is an safeguarding biodiversity. Desmond to Lebanon and to get to know it independent tourism development is also passionate about preserving better. He is active in promoting the and marketing consultant. In April those wild spaces that are still left LMT in Belgium and elsewhere, and 2015, she coordinated the hike on to us to enjoy, both in Lebanon regularly delivers presentations and the Bruce Trail, LMTA’s friendship and elsewhere. Desmond has been writes articles about the LMT. Trail in Toronto. promoting the LMT since he got introduced to it in 2012.

Wim Balvert (Holland) Fareed Elfozan (Kuwait) Elias Sejaan (UAE) Wim Balvert works as a manager Fareed Elfozan has been a resident Elias Sejaan, Lebanese Irish, has and engineer for Van Oord, a of Falougha for several years been a resident of UAE for the large Dutch maritime contractor. where he helped create a children’s past 18 years. An avid hiker and He loves outdoor activities; when playground. He knows the LMT well philanthropist, Elias hiked and he is not working, he is hiking or since his residence lies on section climbed many summits for charity canoeing with friends or family. 17, linking Falougha to Ain Zhalta. with Gulf for Good. He has a Wim was introduced to the LMT Fareed is an avid and generous big admiration for the Lebanese in 2009, when he was among the supporter of the LMTA. mountains and the resilience of the first pioneers to do the whole Thru people who want to preserve it and Walk. Since then, he hasn’t missed protect it such as the LMTA. any Thru Walk, and he always brings friends and family. Before he invites his friends to walk on the LMT, he warns them: the LMT is addictive.

LMT abroad

SOUTH KOREA, Jeju Ole Island: For the fourth consecutive year, the LMTA participated in the 5th World Trails Conference in January 2015. The event was held in Jeju Ole South Korea and brought together more than a dozen trail organizations from around the World. The LMTA is a founding member of the World Trails Network (WTN), an inclusive coalition and cross-promotional platform for World trails. The WTN is working on developing the “trails culture” around the world, and on encouraging sustainable trail development and knowledge sharing among world trails associations.

BELGIUM, Brussels: Thanks to Rend Haffar, LMT Ambassador in Belgium, around 40 members of members of the “Association pour un Pays Laïque” learned about the LMT during a lecture held on March 6, 2015.

CANADA, Toronto: The LMTA and the Bruce Trail Conservancy (BTC) celebrated their friendship and cooperation during a hike on the Bruce Trail’s section named after the LMT in Toronto. 30 hikers, Canadians, and Lebanese visiting and living in Canada hiked the LMT section on April 13, 2015.

Thanks to Salam Khalife, Member, Wafa Osta, our Ambassador in Canada, and friends at the BTC for making this happen!

ENGLAND, London: LMTA’s Ambassador in London Desmond Astley-Cooper, will present the LMT at the British-Lebanese Association in London on November 12th, 2015. The lecture will be attended by British and Lebanese residing in London including VIPs and ex Ambassadors.

UAE- Dubai: The Lebanon Mountain Trail was promoted at the Arab Travel Market (ATM), Lebanon Ministry of Tourism stand, in May 2015. The Travel Show is a yearly event held in Dubai bringing together hundreds from the Travel Industry from around the world.

page 27 News From Our Partners

ﻣﺆﺳﺴﺔ اﻟﺘﺮاث اﻟﻐﺬاﺋﻴﺔ ﻣﺎﺑﻴﻞ ّﺷﺪﻳﺪ، زﻳﻨﺐ ﺟﺎﻣﺒﺎي ّ

ّﻣﺆﺳﺴﺔ اﻟﺘﺮاث ّاﻟﻐﺬاﺋﻴﺔ (FHF) ّﺟﻤﻌﻴﺔ ّﻟﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻻ ﺗﺒﻐﻲ اﻟﺮﺑﺢ، ّﺗﺄﺳﺴﺖ ﺳﻨﺔ ٢٠١٣، وﻫﻲ ﺗﻬﺪف إﻟﻰ اﻟﺤﻔﺎظ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺘﺮاث ّاﻟﻐﺬاﺋﻲ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ ّاﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﺪي، وﺗﻮﺛﻴﻘﻪ وﺗﻌﺰﻳﺰه، ﺑﺎﻋﺘﺒﺎره اﻟﻤﺤﺮك اﻟﺮﺋﻴﺲ ّﻟﻠﺘﻨﻤﻴﺔ ّاﻻﻗﺘﺼﺎدﻳﺔ ّاﻟﺮﻳﻔﻴﺔ.

ﺗﺪور ﺑﺮاﻣﺞ ّاﻟﻤﺆﺳﺴﺔ ﺣﻮل ﺗﻮﻋﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﺴﺘﻬﻠﻜﻴﻦ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻃﻠﺐ اﻟﻤﻨﺘﺠﺎت ّاﻟﻤﺤﻠﻴﺔ، واﻟﻤﺄﻛﻮﻻت ّاﻟﺼﺤﻴﺔ ّاﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﺪﻳﺔ، وﺧﻠﻖ ﻓﺮص ﻋﻤﻞ ﻟﺼﻐﺎر اﻟﻤﺰارﻋﻴﻦ وﻣﻨﺘﺠﻲ اﻟﻤﻮاد ّاﻟﻐﺬاﺋﻴﺔ، ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼل إﻗﺎﻣﺔ رواﺑﻂ داﺋﻤﺔ ﺑﻴﻦ اﻟﻤﺠﺘﻤﻌﺎت َاﻟﺤﻀَ ّﺮﻳﺔ ّواﻟﺮﻳﻔﻴﺔ.

ﺗﻌﻤﻞ ّاﻟﻤﺆﺳﺴﺔ ًﺣﺎﻟﻴﺎ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺛﻼﺛﺔ ﺑﺮاﻣﺞ رﺋﻴﺴﺔ ﻫﻲ:

• ﺳﻮق اﻟﻤﺰارﻋﻴﻦ، «ﺳﻮق ﻋﺎﻟﺴﻮق»، اﻟﺬي ﻳﻬﺪف إﻟﻰ رﻓﻊ ﻣﺴﺘﻮى اﻟﻮﻋﻲ ﺣﻮل اﻟﻤﻨﺘﺠﺎت اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﺆﺳﺴﺎت اﻷﻛﺎدﻳﻤﻴﺔ، ﻣﺜﻞ اﻟﺠﺎﻣﻌﺔ اﻷﻣﻴﺮﻛﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺑﻴﺮوت واﻟﺠﺎﻣﻌﺔ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﺔ اﻷﻣﻴﺮﻛﻴﺔ ﺣﻴﺚ ُﻳﻘﺎم ﻋﻠﻰ أﺳﺎس ﻣﻨﺘﻈﻢ. ﻛﻤﺎ ﻳﻬﺪف اﻟﺴﻮق إﻟﻰ ﺧﻠﻖ رواﺑﻂ ﺑﻴﻦ اﻟﻤﻨﺘﺠﻴﻦ واﻷﺟﻴﺎل اﻟﺠﺪﻳﺪة.

• اﻟﻤﻄﺒﺦ اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻲ، «أﻛﻠﺔ»، ﻟﻠﻮﺻﻔﺎت اﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﺪﻳﺔ، ﻣﺮﻛﺰه ﻓﻲ زﻳﻜﻮ ﻫﺎوس – ﺳﺒﻴﺮز، وﻳﻬﺪف إﻟﻰ ﺗﻌﺰﻳﺰ اﻷﻛﻼت اﻟﺮﻳﻔﻴﺔ ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼل ﺗﺄﻣﻴﻦ اﻟﻄﻌﺎم ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﻨﺎﺳﺒﺎت، ﻛﻤﺎ ّﻳﺆﻣﻦ ﻓﺮص ﻋﻤﻞ ّﻟﺴﻴﺪات ﻣﻦ اﻟﺮﻳﻒ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ وﻳﺸﺘﺮي ﻣﻌﻈﻢ ّاﻟﻤﻜﻮﻧﺎت اﻟﺘﻲ ﻳﺤﺘﺎج إﻟﻴﻬﺎ ﻣﻦ ّﺗﻌﺎوﻧﻴﺎت ّﻣﺤﻠﻴﺔ وﻣﻨﺘﺠﻴﻦ ﺻﻐﺎر. وﺑﺎﻟﺘﻌﺎون ﻣﻊ ﺷﺮﻛﺎء ﻋﺪﻳﺪﻳﻦ، ّأﺳﺴﺖ اﻟﺠﻤﻌﻴﺔ ﻣﻄﺎﺑﺦ ّﻣﺤﻠﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻣﻨﺎﻃﻖ ّرﻳﻔﻴﺔ ّﻋﺪة، ﻣﺜﻞ ﻣﻨﻴﺎرة ﻓﻲ ﻋﻜﺎر واﻟﺨﻴﺎرة ﻓﻲ اﻟﺒﻘﺎع اﻟﻐﺮﺑﻲ. وﺗﺮﺗﺒﻂ ﻫﺬه اﻟﻤﻄﺎﺑﺦ ّﺣﺎﻟﻴ ًﺎ ﺑﺒﺮاﻣﺞ اﻟﻤﺴﺎﻋﺪات ّاﻟﻐﺬاﺋﻴﺔ ّﻟﻼﺟﺌﻴﻦ اﻟﺴﻮرﻳﻴﻦ واﻟﻤﺠﺘﻤﻌﺎت اﻟﻤﻀﻴﻔﺔ ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﺔ، ﺣﻴﺚ ﺗﻘﻮم ﻧﺴﺎء ّﻟﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﺎت ّوﺳﻮرﻳﺎت ﺑﺘﺤﻀﻴﺮ وﺻﻔﺎت ّﺻﺤﻴﺔ ﻣﻦ ّﻣﻜﻮﻧﺎت ّﻣﺤﻠﻴﺔ. وﺗﻬﺪف ﻫﺬه اﻟﻤﻄﺎﺑﺦ إﻟﻰ ﺗﻌﺰﻳﺰ اﻷﻣﻦ ّاﻟﻐﺬاﺋﻲ ﻟﻠﻤﺠﺘﻤﻌﺎت اﻟﻔﻘﻴﺮة ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﻨﺎﻃﻖ ّاﻟﺮﻳﻔﻴﺔ.

• «درب ﻛﺮم» أو درب اﻟﺘﺮاث اﻟﻐﺬاﺋﻲ. ﻫﻮ ﻣﺸﺮوع ّﺳﻴﺎﺣﻲ ﻳﺮﺑﻂ ﺗﺴﻊ ﻗﺮى ﻓﻲ اﻟﺒﻘﺎع ّاﻟﻐﺮﺑﻲ واﻟﺸﻮف اﻷﻋﻠﻰ، ُوﻳ ّﺮوج ﻟﻬﺎ ﻛﻮﺟﻬﺔ ّﺳﻴﺎﺣﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻐﺬاء. ُﻳﺸﺎرك ﻓﻲ اﻟﺪرب ﻣﺰارﻋﻮن وﻣﻨﺘﺠﻮن ورﻋﺎة، وﺑﻴﻮت وﻣﻮاﺋﺪ ﺿﻴﺎﻓﺔ، ّﺗﻘﺪم ّﻛﻠﻬﺎ ﻟﻠﺰوار ﻓﺮﺻﺔ اﻟﻤﺸﺎرﻛﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻷﻧﺸﻄﺔ ّاﻟﺰراﻋﻴﺔ ّاﻟﻐﺬاﺋﻴﺔ ّوﺗﺬوق اﻟﻤﺄﻛﻮﻻت ّاﻟﻤﺤﻠﻴﺔ، ﻣﻊ اﻟﺘﺮﻛﻴﺰ ﻋﻠﻰ ّﻣﻮﺳﻤ ّﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﺤﺎﺻﻴﻞ، وﻃﺮق اﻟﺘﺼﻨﻴﻊ ّاﻟﺘﻘﻠﻴﺪﻳﺔ.

+961 71 731437 www.food-heritage.org facebook: foodheritage Instagram: foodheritagefoundation Photo: Jad Abou Arraje

PolyLiban… au-delà du cyclisme

Grâce aux activités sportives non compétitives dans la nature, Chaque année, l’ADPL organise plus de dix évènements auxquels l’Association du PolyLiban (ADPL) vise à promouvoir le tourisme participent plus de 1.500 sportifs. Le LMT est devenu l’une des responsable, les échanges interculturels et encourage les jeunes à destinations préférées de l’ADPL, en particulier pour le Vélo-Rando découvrir les richesses du patrimoine culturel et naturel du Liban. (randonnée pédestre et cycliste). Durant ses quatre dernières L’ADPL, fondée en 2008 par un groupe de jeunes polyathlètes éditions, près de 200 cyclistes ont ainsi eu la chance de découvrir libanais, est une association sœur de «l’Association du Polyathlon» certaines sections et sentiers parallèles du LMT, tels que les Réserves en Suisse et en France. Biosphères du Chouf et celle de Jabal Moussa, Falougha-Knaysse et Ehmej-Laqlouq. Outre le vélo-rando, l’ADPL organise depuis 8 ans: le vélo-ski, les Sundays’ rides, le vélo-camp, le Polyathlon des Cèdres (PDC) et le PolyLiban Cyclo-Tour. En septembre dernier, 120 sportifs ont participé au PDC, évènement non-compétitif le plus ardu au Moyen-Orient qui vise à relier la côte au plus haut sommet en moins de 24 heures tout en pratiquant cinq sports: 3 km de rafting à partir du port de Byblos, puis 2 km de natation suivi de 98 km en vélo entre Byblos et les Cèdres de Bcharré, en traversant plus de 30 villages, et se terminant par l’ascension à pied en 12 km du plus haut sommet dans le Proche- Orient «Qornet El Sawda» culminant à 3.088 mètres. Après avoir complété le PDC, environ 40 participants ont enchainé avec le «PolyLiban Cyclo-Tour» parcourant 500 km à travers 100 villages et 200 sites culturels et naturels dans les cazas de Zahlé, Beqaa-Ouest, Marjaayoun, Tyr, Nabatieh, Bent Jbeil, Rachaiya, Hasbaiya, Chouf et Baabda. Dans une atmosphère amicale et d’entraide, les évènements Photo: Nady Sokhn organisés par l’ADPL représentent une occasion propice de se dépasser des barrières sociales, religieuses et politiques qui divisent notre société, en favorisant l’amour et le respect de la nature ainsi que l’endurance collective physique et morale. Nos prochaines activités pour 2015-2016 sont: BANFF Mountain Film Festival, Tour de Beyrouth, Vélo-ski, Vélo-Rando et Vélo-Camp, Sunday’s Rides, Try out Session, Polyathlon des Cèdres et PolyLiban. Pour plus de détails, veuillez visiter notre site www.polyliban.org ou notre page Facebook.

page 29 • ﺳﻬﻠﺔ اﻟﺪﻳﺸﺎر ﺗﺘﻮاﺟﺪ ﺳﻬﻠﺔ اﻟﺪﻳﺸﺎر ﺑﻐﺎﻟﺒﻴﺘﻬﺎ ﻓﻲ ﻗﻌﺮ اﻟﺘﻼل. وﻫﻲ ّﻣﻘﺴﻤﺔ إﻟﻰ ﻣﻨﺎﻃﻖ ﺻﻐﻴﺮة ﻣﻨﺘﺸﺮة ﻓﻮق اﻟﻤﻨﺤﺪرات ّاﻟﺼﺨﺮﻳﺔ. ﻳﻜﺴﻮﻫﺎ اﻟﻌﺸﺐ ﻛﺎﻟﺸﻌﻴﺮ ّاﻟﺒﺼﻠﻲ وﻗﺪم اﻟﺪﻳﻚ وأﺧﻠﻴﺔ ﻛﺪﺷﻲ.

• ﻏﺎﺑﺔ اﻟﻌﺬر ّﺗﻤﺘﺪ ﻏﺎﺑﺔ اﻟﻌﺬر ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﺴﺎﺣﺎت ﺟﻨﻮب أوروﺑﺎ وﺗﺮﻛﻴﺎ وﺗﺼﻞ إﻟﻰ ﻟﺒﻨﺎن. وﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺮﻏﻢ ﻣﻦ ّأن ﻫﺬا اﻟﻨﻮع ﻣﻦ اﻟﻐﺎﺑﺎت ﻛﺎن ﻣﺘﻮاﻓﺮا ﻓﻲ ﻟﺒﻨﺎن ﻋﻠﻰ اﻻرﺗﻔﺎﻋﺎت اﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﺘﺮواح ﺑﻴﻦ ١٤٠٠ و١٧٠٠ م، ﻓﻘﺪ أﺻﺒﺤﺖ ﻧﺎدرة اﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ «اﻟﺪﻳﺸﺎر» اﻟﻮﺟﻮد، وﻣﺎ ﺗﺒﻘّ ﻰ ﻣﻨﻬﺎ ﻣﻮﺟﻮد ﻓﻲ إﻫﻤﺞ وﻓﻲ ﻓﻨﻴﺪق ﻓﻲ ﻋﻜﺎر. إﻳﻤﺎن ﺧﻠﻴﻔﺔ • اﻟﻤﻨﺤﺪرات اﻟﺼﺨﺮﻳﺔ ﺳﻌﺖ ﺑﻠﺪﻳﺔ إﻫﻤﺞ، وﺟﻤﻌﻴﺔ إﻧﻤﺎء إﻫﻤﺞ، ﺑﺎﻟﺘﻌﺎون ﻣﻊ ﺟﺎﻣﻌﺔ ّ ﺗﺘّ ﺠﻪ ﻫﺬه اﻟﻤﻨﺤﺪرات ًﺷﻤﺎﻻ وﻫﻲ ﻣﻠﻴﺌﺔ ﺑﺄﻧﻮاع اﻟﻨﺒﺎﺗﺎت اﻟﺘﻲ ً ً اﻟﻘﺪﻳﺲ ﻳﻮﺳﻒ ﻛﻠﻴﺔ اﻟﻌﻠﻮم، إﻟﻰ إﻋﻼن «اﻟﺪﻳﺸﺎر» ﻣﻮﻗﻌﺎ ّﻃﺒﻴﻌﻴﺎ ﺗﻔﻘﺪ أوراﻗﻬﺎ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻔﺼﻞ اﻟﺒﺎرد. ﻳﻤﻜﻨﻨﺎ أن ﻧﺠﺪ اﻟﻐﺒﻴﺮاء اﻟﻤﺮوﺣﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ّأﻳﺎر ٢٠١٥، ﺑﻌﺪ ﺳﻠﺴﻠﺔ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺪراﺳﺎت واﻷﺑﺤﺎث ّاﻟﻌﻠﻤﻴﺔ. اﻟﻮرق واﻟﻌﻔﺺ واﻟﺴﻔﺮﺟﻠﻴﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻫﺬه اﻟﻤﻨﺤﺪرات. ًوﻏﺎﻟﺒﺎ ﻣﺎ ﺗﻜﻮن ّﻣﻮل اﻟﻤﺸﺮوع «ﺻﻨﺪوق اﻟﺸﺮاﻛﺔ ّاﻟﺒﻴﺌﻴﺔ ّاﻟﺤﺮﺟﻴﺔ» وﻫﻮ ﺑﺮﻧﺎﻣﺞ ﺷﺎﻣﻞ اﻟﻤﻨﺤﺪرات ﻇﻠﻴﻠﺔ وﻣﻨﻌﺸﺔ ﻣﺎ ﻳﺘﻴﺢ وﺟﻮد ﻧﻮع ﺧﺎص ﻣﻦ اﻟﻨﺒﺎت ﻳﺆﻣﻦ اﻟﺘﻤﻮﻳﻞ اﻟﻼزم ﻟﻠﻤﻨﻈّ ﻤﺎت ﻏﻴﺮ اﻟﺤﻜﻮﻣﻴﺔ ﺑﻐﻴﺔ اﻟﻤﺴﺎﻋﺪة ﻋﻠﻰ ّ ّ اﻟﻤﺘﻮاﻟﻒ ﻣﻊ اﻟﺸﻘﻮق، ﻻ ّﺳﻴﻤﺎ اﻷﻧﻮاع اﻟﻤﺴﺘﻮﻃﻨﺔ، ﻛﺎﻟﻜﻨﻬﺎن ﺣﻤﺎﻳﺔ ﻧﻘﺎط ّاﻟﺘﻨﻮع ّاﻟﺒﻴﻮﻟﻮﺟﻲ اﻟﺴﺎﺧﻨﺔ، أي اﻟﻤﻨﺎﻃﻖ اﻷﻛﺜﺮ ﻏﻨﻰ اﻷﻣﻠﺲ اﻟﺜﻤﺮ وﻏﻠﻴﻮم اﻟﺒﻴﺴﺘﻠﻮزة. ًﺑﻴﻮﻟﻮﺟﻴﺎ واﻷﻛﺜﺮ ًﺗﻌﺮﺿﺎ ﻟﻠﺨﻄﺮ. • ﻃﺎروع اﻟﻘﻴﻘﺐ ﺗﻘﻊ إﻫﻤﺞ ﻓﻲ ﻗﻀﺎء ﺟﺒﻴﻞ، ﺗﺒﻠﻎ ﻣﺴﺎﺣﺘﻬﺎ ١٧,٤ ﻛﻠﻢ٢، ﺗﻌﻠﻮ ١٢٥٠ ﻳﻘﻊ ﻃﺎروع اﻟﻘﻴﻘﺐ ﻓﻲ إﻫﻤﺞ. وﻟﻐﺮاﺑﺔ اﻟﺤﺎل، ﻳﻄﻐﻰ ﻗﻴﻘﺐ ً ﻣﺘﺮا ﻋﻦ ﺳﻄﺢ اﻟﺒﺤﺮ. وﻫﻲ ﺗﺸﻜّﻞ ٠,١٧٪ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺴﺎﺣﺔ ﻟﺒﻨﺎن ّاﻹﺟﻤﺎﻟﻴﺔ ﻃﻮروس ﻋﻠﻰ ﻫﺬا اﻟﻮادي اﻟﺼﻐﻴﺮ، ﺑﺎﻹﺿﺎﻓﺔ إﻟﻰ أﺷﺠﺎر ﻧﻔﻀﻴﺔ وﺗﺤﻮي ﻋﻠﻰ ١٢٪ ﻣﻦ أﻧﻮاع اﻟﻨﺒﺎﺗﺎت ﻓﻲ ﻟﺒﻨﺎن. واﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ ّ أﺧﺮى وﺷﺠﻴﺮات ﺧﻮخ ّاﻟﺪب واﻟﺰﻋﺮور اﻷﺣﻤﺮ وزﻫﺮ اﻟﻌﺴﻞ اﻟﻤﺨﻤﻠﻲ. «اﻟﺪﻳﺸﺎر» ﻳﻘﻊ ﻓﻲ ﺷﺮق إﻫﻤﺞ وﻫﻲ اﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘﺔ اﻷﻛﺜﺮ ًﻋﻠﻮا ﻓﻲ ﻣﻊ ذﻟﻚ، ّﻓﺈن وﺟﻮد ﺷﺠﻴﺮات ﺷﺎﺋﻜﺔ ﻛﺎﻟﺒﺮﺑﺮﻳﺲ اﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻲ وﻛﺜﻴﺮاء اﻟﺒﻠﺪة، واﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﻌﻴﺶ ﻓﻲ ﺗﺮﺑﺘﻬﺎ ﻧﺒﺎﺗﺎت ﻧﺎدرة. ﻛﺒﻴﺒﺞ ﻻ ّﺗﺴﻬﻞ ﺻﻌﻮد اﻟﻤﻨﺤﺪرات. ﺗﻬﺪﻳﺪات ّﻋﺪة ﺗﺆﺛﺮ ﻋﻠﻰ اﺳﺘﻤﺮارﻳﺔ ﻫﺬه اﻷﻧﻮاع ﻣﻦ اﻟﻨﺒﺎﺗﺎت، ﻛﺒﻨﺎء اﻟﻤﻨﺎزل واﻟﻄﺮﻗﺎت، واﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎر اﻷراﺿﻲ ّاﻟﺰراﻋﻴﺔ. وﻟﺬﻟﻚ ﺑﺮزت اﻟﺤﺎﺟﺔ • اﻷرز اﻟﻤﺰروع (ﺧﺎرج اﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ) إﻟﻰ إﻋﻼن اﻷراﺿﻲ اﻟﻤﺸﺎع ﻓﻲ ﺗﻠﻚ اﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘﺔ ًﻣﻮﻗﻌﺎ ًﻃﺒﻴﻌﻴﺎ، ﺑﺎﻟﺘﻌﺎون ﻣﻊ وزارﺗﻲ اﻟﺒﻴﺌﺔ واﻟﺰراﻋﺔ ّوﺟﻤﻌﻴﺔ ﺟﺬور ﻟﺒﻨﺎن ّﺗﻢ زرع أﻛﺜﺮ ووﺿﻊ اﺗّ ﻔﺎق ﻣﻊ أﺻﺤﺎب اﻷراﺿﻲ اﻟﺨﺎﺻﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ ﺗﺒﻠﻴﻎ ّاﻟﺒﻠﺪﻳﺔ ﻋﻦ ﻣﻦ ١٢ أﻟﻒ أرزة اﻟﻤﺸﺎرﻳﻊ اﻟﻤﻨﻮي إﻧﺸﺎؤﻫﺎ ﻟﻴﻘﻮم ﻗﺴﻢ اﻟﺰراﻋﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻛﻠﻴﺔ اﻟﻌﻠﻮم، ًوﺑﻨﺎء ﻋﻠﻰ ﺗﻮﺟﻴﻬﺎت اﻟﺪﻛﺘﻮر ﻣﺎﻏﺪا ﺧﺮاط، ﺑﻨﻘﻞ اﻟﻨﺒﺎﺗﺎت إﻟﻰ أﻣﺎﻛﻦ إن وﺟﻮد ﻫﺬه اﻷﻧﻮاع ﻓﻲ وادي اﻟﺪﻳﺸﺎر اﻟﻬﺎدئ ﻟﻴﺲ ﺻﺪﻓﺔ. وذﻟﻚ آﻣﻨﺔ داﺧﻞ اﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ. ّﻷن اﻟﻤﺤﺎﻓﻈﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺒﻴﺌﺔ واﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎرﻫﺎ ﺑﻄﺮﻳﻘﺔ ﻣﺴﺘﺪاﻣﺔ ّوﻋﻠﻤﻴﺔ ﻫﻤﺎ إﺣﺪى رﻛﺎﺋﺰ ّﺧﻄﺔ اﻟﺘﻨﻤﻴﺔ اﻟﺘﻲ وﺿﻌﺘﻬﺎ ﺑﻠﺪﻳﺔ إﻫﻤﺞ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻌﺎم أﻧﻮاع اﻟﻤﻮاﻃﻦ ّاﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺪﻳﺸﺎر: ٢٠١٤، ﻟﻠﻨﻬﻮض ﺑﻜﺎﻓّ ﺔ اﻟﻘﻄﺎﻋﺎت، وﺗﺄﻣﻴﻦ ﻓﺮص ﻋﻤﻞ ﻷﺑﻨﺎء اﻟﻘﺮﻳﺔ، ّواﻟﺤﺪ ﻣﻦ ﻣﺸﻜﻠﺔ اﻟﻨﺰوح. • ﺗﻼل اﻟﻌﺮﻋﺮ ﻓﺒﺎﻹﺿﺎﻓﺔ إﻟﻰ اﻟﻤﻮﻗﻊ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﻌﻲ ﺗﺠﺪ ﻓﻲ إﻫﻤﺞ ١٦ ﻣﺴﺎر ﻣﺸﻲ ً ﻫﻲ ﻛﻨﺎﻳﺔ ﻋﻦ ﻣﻨﺤﺪرات ﻣﺘّ ﺠﻬﺔ ﺟﻨﻮﺑﺎ ّﺑﻐﺎﻟﺒﻴﺘﻬﺎ، ﺣﻴﺚ اﻟﺠﻔﺎف. ﻳﺼﻞ اﻟﺒﻠﺪة ﺑﺎﻟﻘﺮى اﻟﻤﺠﺎورة. ﻟﻜﻞ ﻃﺮﻳﻖ ﻣﻴﺰﺗﻬﺎ وﻗﺼﺘﻬﺎ اﻟﺘﻲ وﻳﻐﻄﻴﻬﺎ اﻟﻌﺮﻋﺮ اﻟﻌﺎدي واﻟﺴﻨﺪﻳﺎن. إن ﻫﺬه اﻷﻧﻮاع اﻟﺪاﺋﻤﺔ اﻟﺨﻀﺎر ّ ّ ّ ﻳﻌﻴﺸﻬﺎ اﻟﺴﺎﺋﺢ ﻣﻦ ﺧﻼل ﺗﻨﻘّ ﻠﻪ ﻣﻊ اﻟﻤﺮﺷﺪ ّاﻟﺠﺒﻠﻲ ّاﻟﻤﺤﻠﻲ. ﻫﻲ ﻧﻤﻮذج ﻋﻦ اﻷدﻏﺎل ّاﻟﻤﺘﻮﺳﻄﻴﺔ اﻟﺘﻲ ﺗﺴﺘﻄﻴﻊ ﻣﻘﺎوﻣﺔ ﻓﺘﺮات «أرز إﻫﻤﺞ» ﺑﻴﺖ ﻟﻠﻀﻴﺎﻓﺔ ﻳﺘﺴﻊ ﻟﺤﻮاﻟﻲ ٢٠ ًﺷﺨﺼﺎ وﻳﻘﻊ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﺠﻔﺎف اﻟﻄﻮﻳﻠﺔ ﻓﻲ ﻓﺼﻞ اﻟﺼﻴﻒ. أﻣﺎ ﻗﺮﺻﻴﺔ اﻟﻮرق، ﻓﺘﺸﻜّﻞ ﻣﺸﺎرف ﻏﺎﺑﺔ اﻷرز. ﺑﺎﻟﻘﺮب ﻣﻨﻪ ﻣﻨﺘﺰه ﻟﻸﻟﻌﺎب، وﻣﺴﺎر ﻟﻠﺪراﺟﺎت وﺳﺎدات زﻫﺮﻳﺔ اﻟﻠﻮن ﻛﻨﻤﻮذج ﻋﻦ ﻫﺬا اﻟﻤﻮﻃﻦ ﻓﻮق ﺗﺮﺑﺔ رﻣﻠﻴﺔ. ّ ّ ّاﻟﻬﻮاﺋﻴﺔ، وﻣﻄﻌﻢ ّﻳﻘﺪم اﻟﻤﺄﻛﻮﻻت ّاﻟﻠﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﺔ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻄﺮﻳﻘﺔ ّاﻹﻫﻤﺠﻴﺔ. Tips from our Outdoor Gear Partner

Layering for Comfort and Safety No matter the conditions, you should always layer your clothing. You can always remove or add on layers depending on your level of activity and the environment around you. Staying dry and feeling neither too hot nor cold should be your top priority; failing that could spell disaster. On short hikes, when the weather is mild, hiking shorts and a t-shirt are fine, but layer your clothing on hikes that will take more than a couple of hours. This includes everything from hiking pants to hiking hat.

Layer #1: Wicking The first layer of clothes against your body are responsible for wicking perspiration away and keeping you dry so this layer should always be a polypropylene long sleeve undershirt and underpants. Never wear cotton as it absorbs and holds moisture, which chafes and makes you cold. You can always roll up this layer over the knees and elbows as you get warmer and even remove the layer if the temperature climbs high. Do not let yourself get overheated before removing this layer. Don’t forget wicking liner socks.

Layer #2: Insulating This layer traps body warmth to keep you comfortably warm while still allowing perspiration to escape. It can even be a couple of layers, depending on the temperature. Synthetic fabric such as fleece is usually a good, inexpensive choice. Goose down is an excellent insulating layer, very lightweight, but expensive. For pants, a pair of nylon zip off pants is a great layer on top of your polypropylene underpants. Keep in mind insulating layers that can be easily taken off or put on as you get hot or cold.

Layer #3: Protective Shell This layer keeps out rain but still allows perspiration to escape. The material used is GoreTex. Make sure you get a coat that has a built-in hood to keep rain from going down your neck. This layer protects you from rain, snow, and wind and is crucial whenever you may encounter bad weather or cold temperatures.

So, layer your hiking clothes using the proper material and you’re sure to enjoy the most a hike has to offer!

Photo: Adib Hachem

page 31 Financials - Donors and Partners

Thank you to all our donors and partners who contributed to the LMTA between December 2014 and September 2015!

Cash donations In-kind donations and grants

$20,000 - $49,999 Adora Boutique Ixsir Winery Nabil Basbous, sculptor Dar al-Handasah Al Arz Printing Jack & Wissam Hanna Nada Debs Albina Dr Jean Stephan Nadim Karam, painter $1,000 - $4,999 Alia Fares, achaeologist Johnny Farah Naim Spa Century 21 Alice Edde Kanzaman Nestle Waters Colette Hayek Massaad Ascend Retail Karen Chekerdjian Orient 499 EcoConsulting Assaad Najem, lawyer Key Architects Qi Juices Ecodit Auberge de la Mer, Batroun Khaled Sleem Raeda Barbir Elie Gebrayel Baffa House, Mar Mikhael President Khalil Harfouch Rima Khatib Design Art Karine Ghosn Bassatin Baanoub La Rose De Sim Reva Ramzi & Jihan Tarazi Beatroot: Joe, Marc, Mayssa, Nabil, Leila & Samir Ghanem Rob Mosrie Roula Attar Karam Randy Le Gray Hotel Sanita Salam Khalife Dr Bouchra Doueihy Luxe Restaurant Sarah's Bags Sanita Bokja Maison du Ski Selim Mouzannar Souad Khalil Bread Basket Square Maria Halios Design Shouf Cedar Reserve Cafe Najjar Maroun Abi Nakhle SolarNet $500 - $999 Chehab Family in Hasbaiya Dr Mary Angela Willis Souad Sbeiti Albert Khoury Choucrallah Fattouh, painter Dr Maya Nehme Souk el Tayeb Antoine Ghanem College Melkart Mayssa Abou Rahal Tao Spa Imane Rayess Diageo Mohamed Rawass, painter Trampoline Creation Michel & Nabil Nahas Dive the Med Club, Batroun President Mohamed Saadieh Union of Municipalities of Minou & H.E. Mohamad Ecole des Arts Ghassan Yammine Mohammad Al Zein Danniye Machnouk Edde Sands Mona Nahle, painter Union of Municipalities of Nada Shehade Exotica Monte Santo, Wissam Assaf Jezzine Nassif Ragheb Fadi Baaklini & Suha Wilson Municipality of Afqa Visique Optometrists Fadi Chahine Municipality of Ain Zhalta Vitral - Walid Abou Habib $100 - $499 Fadia Mansour Municipality of Andqet Waste LB Assaad Najem FP7 / BEY part of McCann Municipality of Bcharre Yazbek Wehbe Claudine Abdel Massih Worldgroup Municipality of Ehmej Darnell Bass Gulbenk Trading Company - Nikon Municipality of El Mtain Hana El Hibri Gustave Innovation Sucre Municipality of El Qoubaiyat Huda Saigh Hadi Hbeich Municipality of Falougha June Haber Hallak Opticians Municipality of Kfardebiane Michael Papaeracleous Impact BBDO Municipality of Marjaayoun Mireille Chidiac Interdec S.A.R.L, Furniture & Municipality of Niha Moustapha Qandil Interiors Municipality of Tannourine el Nadine Mansour Faouqa Naila Bustros Paul Henry Torbey Rania Azar Thru-Walk Fundraising for Lebanon’s Rendala Taleb Cultural and Archaeological Rula Darwich Le Court Heritage: Salim Asseily The LMTA received $5,318 in donations during the 2015 Thru- Samir Ghanem Walk. These donations, collected using the Razoo online Suha Yammine crowd-funding platform, will contribute to the Cultural and Walid & Monique Zaarour Archaeological Heritage project on the LMT. We thank all those behind these “digits” for their generous support to make this project happen. Sorry we are not able to retrieve your full names to thank you personally. We are very grateful! The LMTA also thanks our Sponsors at the Annual Fundraising Dinner (October 1st, 2015)

JUNIPER SPONSORS

OAK SPONSORS

PINE SPONSORS

Gala planner Agency Venue

page 33 Financial Statement 2014

The LMTA has an “Accounting & Procurement” reference manual which was developed in 2013. The LMTA is using the Visual Dolphin accounting software. Our accounts follow the cash-basis of accounting in accordance with International Reporting Standards, and are audited by BERCER.

The LMTA combined schedule of revenues and expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014:

Financials 2014 - revenues

اﻳﺮادات (ﻟﻴﺮة ﻟﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﺔ) Revenues in Lebanese Pounds

اﻳﺮادات اﻟﺒﻴﻊ Sales 6,421,929 اﺷﺘﺮاﻛﺎت اﻟﻤﻨﺘﺴﺒﻴﻦ Membership 3,006,420 اﻟﻬﺒﺎت واﻟﺘﺒﺮﻋﺎت Donations and grants 45,239,256 ﻧﺸﺎﻃﺎت ّﻣﻤﻮﻟﺔ Funded projects 366,045,587 اﻳﺮادات ﻧﺸﺎﻃﺎت Events 76,863,968 اﻳﺮادات أﺧﺮى Other revenues 249,732

ﻣﺠﻤﻮع اﻻﻳﺮادات Total revenues 497,826,892

Financials 2014 - expenses

ﻣﺼﺎرﻳﻒ (ﻟﻴﺮة ﻟﺒﻨﺎﻧﻴﺔ) Expenses in Lebanese Pounds

اﻟﻤﻮﺟﻮدات اﻟﺜﺎﺑﺘﺔ Goods 3,637,072 ﺗﻨﻘﻼت Transportation 14,468,857 ﺑﺮﻳﺪ Postage 164,000 اﺗﺼﺎﻻت Communication 16,638,035 ﻣﺼﺎرﻳﻒ Office ﻣﻜﺘﺐ ﺻﻴﺎﻧﺔ expenses Maintenance and repairs 4,779,555 اﻳﺠﺎرات Rent and building expenses 8,336,475 ﻛﻬﺮﺑﺎء Electricity expenses 5,454,050 ﻣﺼﺎرﻳﻒ اﻟﻨﻈﺎﻓﺔ Cleaning expenses 1,657,500 ﻗﺮﻃﺎﺳﻴﺔ Stationary 1,513,555

رواﺗﺐ Salaries 66,199,872 أﺟﻮر Payroll اﻟﻀﻤﺎن اﻻﺟﺘﻤﺎﻋﻲ Social Insurance (NSSF) 11,731,501

ﺧﺒﺮاء وﻣﺴﺘﺸﺎرون Consultancy (project-based) 95,188,155 ﻧﺸﺎﻃﺎت Projects ﻃﺒﺎﻋﺔ Printing 43,785,800 ّﻣﻤﻮﻟﺔ اﺷﻐﺎل اﻟﻨﺸﺎﻃﺎت ّاﻟﻤﻤﻮﻟﺔ Activities 243,288,869

ﻣﺼﺎرﻳﻒ اﻟﻤﺼﺎرﻳﻒ اﻟﻤﺎﻟﻴﺔ Other Financial expenses 4,687,667 أﺧﺮى expences ﻣﺼﺎرﻳﻒ أﺧﺮى Other expenses 1,270,207 اﺟﻤﺎﻟﻲ اﻟﻤﺼﺎرﻳﻒ Total expenses 522,801,170

رﺻﻴﺪ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺼﻨﺪوق Cash and cash equivalent on 01.01.2014 172,133,475 01.01.2014 اﻟﻨﻘﺪ واﻟﻨﻘﺪ اﻟﻤﻌﺎدل ﻓﻲ ﻋﺎم Cash an d cash equ ivalent on 31.12.2014 147,159,197 2014

The complete financial statements, including all related notes, may be consulted in our office. Photo: Béatrice Le Bon Chami page 35 End2End List

Photo: Béatrice Le Bon Chami

Congratulations to our members and friends for completing their End2End of the LMT:

End2End List until September 2015 18 Akhrass, Christian 4th time 2013 19 Lteif, Joseph 4th time E2E# Name #of Times 20 Qandil, Mustapha 2nd time 1 Akhrass, Christian 21 Robbins, Lisa 2 Mouannes, Chamoun 22 Abou Khalil, Mohamad

3 El-Hibri, Hana 23 Akhrass, Christian 5th time 2009 4 Soulkoudjian, Lizelotte 24 Lteif, Joseph 5th time 2014 5 Schiller, Norbert 25 Nseir, Ralph 6 Balvert, Wim 26 Mitri, Sami

7 Akhrass, Christian 2nd time 27 Rasmussen, Niels 2010 8 Lteif, Joseph 28 Karkour, Maya

9 Cazalet, Adrian 29 Mitri, Sami 2nd time 10 Lteif, Joseph 2nd time 30 Akhrass, Christian 6th time 2011 11 Cazalet, Adrian 2nd time 31 Lteif, Joseph 6th time 12 Akhrass, Christian 3rd time 32 Sbaiti, Souad 13 Lteif, Joseph 3rd time 2015 33 Saade, Dima 14 El Khatib, Maha 34 Karam, Carla 2012 15 Qandil, Mustapha 35 Astley-Cooper, Desmond 16 Hurd, Tricia 36 Willis, Mary Angela 17 Khalife, Salam 37 Bass, Darnel

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