word of the president Raoul Nehmé | President Jouzour Loubnan

Jouzour Loubnan is celebrating today 7 years of continuous green success. Seven is the most significant number across religions and cultures and so are our forests which stretch from North to South and from Mount Lebanon to the Bekaa. There are seven days of the week, seven colours of the rainbow, seven notes on a musical scale, seven seas and seven continents. Snow White ran off to live with seven dwarves, there were seven brides for seven brothers, Shakespeare described the seven ages of man, Sinbad the Sailor had seven voyages. And when Ian Fleming was looking for a code for James Bond, he didn’t go for 006 or 008. Only 007 had the right ring :) So this must be our lucky 7 years so far!

The Jouzour Loubnan team is Last but not least, new germination Last but not least, we had a dream motivated, solution driven and protocols have been documented 7 years ago, and there is nothing constantly trying to overcome new and shared with nurseries this year more valuable and joyful than seeing challenges to achieve our mission. as a result of our daily research one’s dream become a reality, and experiments in our and slowly but efficiently, our children We managed to secure the survival Germination Laboratory, (more will indulge into Lebanon’s growing and protection of all our planted details within the magazine). forests in a healthy, natural and safe throughout last year›s draught and environment. Lebanon thanks each are happy to announce that more Furthermore, Jouzour Loubnan one of you for continuing to make than 200,000 native trees are happily always strives to find innovative our dream a living reality every year! growing in our beloved Lebanese soil and efficient ways to raise funds in today thanks to all our supporters and order to ensure the sustainability Raoul Nehmé donors who believe in us and believe and continuity of the Reforestation President Jouzour Loubnan in a healthier Lebanon. campaigns. Hence, we have recently been venturing into initiating a The details of all the plantation sites sustainable and independent private can be explored further within this public partnership by developing a magazine. In addition, we have also private-sector-led reforestation fund developed new individual fencing (PRF) to assist the Government of methods to protect our trees from the Lebanon in achieving its goal of 20% sheep and goats’ hungry days while forested area by 2050. keeping the shepherds satisfied and on our side. This initiative is still in its draft phase and needs your contribution and support to bring it to life. You can read more about this initiative within the magazine.

1 TABLE OF NEWSFLaSH CONTENTS Private-Sector-Lead Reforestation Fund for Afforestation and Reforestation in Lebanon

ABOUT p7. Newsflash The Government of Lebanon launched the “40 Million Planting Program” in 2012. Based on this program, the Private-Sector-Lead Reforestation Fund Government of Lebanon prepared the National Afforestation and Reforestation Program (NARP) to increase the forest (PRF) for Afforestation and Reforestation in Lebanon cover from 13% to 20% by 2030. In response to a request from the Government of Lebanon, the World Bank, Food Jouzour Loubnan is an NGO established since 2008 p8. Join our Mission and Agriculture Organization of United Nations (FAO), the European Union (EU), other international and national (registration number 491) whose mission is to participate institutions and local NGOs have begun providing support to the Government of Lebanon and subsidiary municipalities p10. Meet the Team in the restoration of Lebanese woodland and promote in implementing NARP. sustainable forestation mainly in arid regions. Jouzour INCREASE THE WOODLAND AREA Loubnan also focuses on empowering local communities to protect, manage, and benefit from the plantation projects p11. explore our Plantation Sites Challenges offset shortfalls in government’s This approach aims to facilitate reforestation efforts. However, transparency, independence, and promotes environmental awareness of natural resources p15. Celebrate our Achievements Historically, the forests of Lebanon such ad-hoc initiatives have been and integrity in the management amongst younger generations. To date (2015), Jouzour p18. Follow our Plantation Methodology have played an important role generally uncoordinated, received of the fund, as well as enable Loubnan has planted irrigated and protected more than throughout the Middle East. In limited financial support and far from flexible, efficient and cost-effective p21. read our Story in Damour 200.000 trees across the Lebanese territory antiquity, Lebanese cedars (Cedrus achieving any significant result. implementation of reforestation p22. discover our New Forest in Jezzine libani) -- the central symbol of activities. In order to ensure the CONTACT US : the Lebanese flag -- and other Reforestation in Lebanon on independent and transparent WITH A SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND m: +961.71.124 000 forest species were exploited for State and Municipal land requires decision making processes, the t: +961.(0)1.429 666 e: [email protected] shipbuilding and the construction substantial and sustained efforts PRF will be managed by a board w: www.jouzourloubnan.org p28. enter into our Laboratory f: +961.(0)1.398 040 of temples and other major for protection and maintenance, of trustees composed of reputable For your donations: +961.1.429 666 p40. Conservation of forest genetic resources monuments. The long history especially given low seedling survival representatives from the civil society, of timber extraction, forest fire rates, overgrazing and water scarcity the private sector and International PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS and animal grazing led to the during a period of 6 months, which Institutional Donors. Jouzour.loubnan JouzourLoubnan degradation of forest resources increases reforestation programs p24. support us in Spreading Awareness and the loss of most forests. The complexity and costs: Using Key Government of Lebanon p26. get Involved Civil War (1975-1990), subsequent existing reforestation techniques, ministries such as Ministries of an estimated minimum investment Agriculture, Environment, and p29. Lebanon eFlora uncontrolled urban expansion, and frequent fires have further of US$400 million is needed to Interior and Municipalities will be p30. Activity 1 reduced the total forest area by achieve NARP’s goals, which is invited to participate in the board ECOPLANTMED Project approximately 40% to a mere 13% of far beyond the Government of of trustees if they wish so, noting p32. Activity 2 Lebanon’s land area. Lebanon’s financing ability without that in any case non-governmental 24. Expansion of the Laboratory massive support from International representatives will hold the majority for Seed Conservation and Germination Lebanon is considered a hot spot Institutions and bilateral donors as of the board seats and that the p33. Activity 3 for biodiversity -- desertification, well as the private sector. PRF will be managed according A new species of land degradation, and severe soil to private-sector standards with in Lebanon “” erosion are negatively affecting the Proposal strict corporate governance codes Lebanese economy and quality of ensuring efficiency and transparency. EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITIES life as well as the environment of the Jouzour Loubnan proposes . to develop a sustainable and Under the board of trustees, there p44. Lebanon Mountain Trail - Thru Walk 2015 independent private public will be a PRF secretariat led by p50. arcenciel Annual Report 2014 In the 1960s and early 1970s, partnership through developing a a CEO reporting to the Board of Government of Lebanon private-sector-led reforestation fund Trustees to act as the program p53. sCOuts du Liban implemented numerous (PRF) to assist the Government of management unit (PMU) for the 50 p56. did you Know? reforestation projects. However, Lebanon in achieving NARP’s goals PRF. The Board of Trustees will reforestation initiatives stalled of 20% forested area by 2050. make sure that all PRF employees during the prolonged years of have no conflict of interest with any p57. tHank You Note to our Sponsors civil war and subsequent political stakeholder, i.e. NGOs, Government instability. Lebanese civil society of Lebanon administrations, etc. and universities have tried to

3 NEWSFLaSH Jouzour Private-Sector-Lead Reforestation Fund for Loubnan’s mission Afforestation and Reforestation in Lebanon Our mission is to participate in the The proposed PRF and PMU will: restoration of Lebanese woodland

• Raise funds for PRF from various local and and promote sustainable forestation international institutions as well the private sector • Develop and implement extensive awareness mainly in arid regions. promoting CSR approaches; campaigns in schools, universities as well as for local • Assume fiduciary responsibilities for the fund; authorities and stakeholders and for the public at We have chosen to intervene mainly in arid mountainous regions as, on one hand, they are very • Facilitate proactive transparency with all large in order to: often dismissed in exiting forestation programs and, on the other hand, the benefits of such stakeholders via public access to financial records, • Build public support for reforestation and PRF; forestation are tremendous. governance decisions, and relevant project data. • Protect reforested areas as well as existing forests; • Develop a Research and Development (R&D) • Liaise and coordinate with stakeholders and, The success of our forestation campaigns resides in our commitment to ensure the appropriate program in close cooperation with universities and namely, coordinate closely with Government of irrigation, guardianship and protection of the trees we plant. This success can be difficult to local NGOs in order to reduce costs and improve Lebanon reforestation programs and ensure that PRF achieve, more so in arid regions due to extreme weather conditions, lack of surface water, poor reforestation outcomes, such as survival rates, activities abide by Government of Lebanon goals and soil quality and overgrazing. In order to overcome the issues at hand, we devised a special resilience, biodiversity, soil health, and protection regulations and are complementary to reforestation program taking into account, for each region, all technical and socio-economic aspects related against fire hazards and grazing: efforts implemented by Government of Lebanon; to such complex environments. • Review and evaluate R&D proposals for funding; • Provide advisory services to Government of Lebanon • Administer reforestation grants and other technical and in order to improve the legal framework and its financial assistance to such universities and NGOs to implementation; and implement these projects; • Provide technical supervision, coordination, and Within that scope, the private sector would play a key monitoring and evaluation of on-going R&D projects; role in PRF’s early success by securing seed financing, • Collect and share best practices regarding public serving on the board of trustees, and engendering relations, reforestation techniques, governance, etc.; confidence in other potential donors and supporters. In the longer-term, the private sector involvement will help • Execute reforestation projects as follows: ensure stable, sustainable funding of the program. • Define, review and evaluate reforestation proposals for funding; • Provide support to reforestation partners such as NGOs, civil society organizations (CSOs), private sector companies and municipalities to form and maintain inclusive reforestation consortia, ensuring efficiency as As a result, Jouzour Loubnan well as representation of disadvantaged and vulnerable has three interconnected goals: stakeholders; • Help consortia – composed of municipalities and reforestation partners – develop long-term governance structures for reforested areas; • Provide grants and other technical and financial assistance to such consortia to reforest Municipal and State lands; PLANT MAINLY IN ARID REGIONS EMPOWER LOCAL COMMUNITIES PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS • Provide technical supervision, coordination, and monitoring Increase the woodland area in Empower the local community Promote environmental awareness of and evaluation of on-going R&D projects; Lebanon by planting indigenous to protect, manage, promote and our natural resources amongst younger species to restore degraded benefit from the projects. generations, locals and officials. • Ensure necessary commitments of local authorities to allow high mountain ecosystems and or facilitate the conduct, maintenance, protection, and develop wildlife habitats. long-term sustainability of reforestation projects; • Encourage and assist consortia in securing legal, financial, and social incentives and protections for reforested areas;

5 7 OU R CO M M U N IT Y

M A T

T

E

R

S

As responsible corporate citizens, we understand that our activities have important and direct consequences on our community that is why we are committed to sustainable development with the aim of making a difference in four areas: Our Business, Our People, Our

SCAN THIS CODE SCAN Environment and Our Community. 9 MEET THE TEAM

Raoul Nehmé | President Profession: General Manager, BLC Bank Education: Ecole Polytechnique de Paris & Ecole des Mines de Paris

Magda Bou Dagher Kharrat | Vice President Profession: Head of Life & Earth department, Education: PhD in plant molecular biology, Université Pierre et Marie Curie

Hani Hoyek | Accounting Profession: Strategic Development, BLC Bank Education: Grande Ecole de Commerce EM Lyon

Hiba Aboulhosn | Communication & Media Profession: Communication and PR Consultant, Partner, ‘Keep it simple’ communications agency Education: Masters in Communication, Edinburgh University

Rami Kozhaya | Project Management Profession: Organization, BLC Bank Education: MBA - Management of Financial institutions, USJ - Sorbonne - Paris Dauphine

Joelle Saab | Project Coordinator & Laboratory Technical Manager Education: Sciences & Management, St. Joseph University

Bouchra Doueihi | Project Coordinator Education: PhD in Plant Ecology

Riad Mouawad | Art Director Profession: Art Director & Partner, BlackInk - visual communication Education: Notre Dame University, Graphic Design

Lara Fahs | Communication Assistant Profession: Communication and PR Officer at ‘Keep it simple’ communications agency Education: Master’s in Information and Communication, Université Saint Joseph

Farid Maalouf | Engineer Consultant Profession: Metcon United, General Manager Education: Civil Engineer, ESIB

Tony Chahine | Site controller Education: MS Agricultural Engineering, Lebanese University.

Ghada Zeaiter | Treasurer Profession: Executive assistant, BLC Bank

Charles El Hage | Member Profession: Retired as Senior Vice-president with Booz & Company Education: Masters of Science in Industrial Engineering & Bachelor Industrial Management, Purdue University, Indiana, USA.

Frederic Khalil | Member Profession: Partner, BEAR Education: MBA, Université St Joseph & Paris Dauphine

Fadi Nassif | General Secretary

11 INCREASE THE WOODLAND AREA

13 INCREASE THE WOODLAND AREA INCREASE THE WOODLAND AREA Jouzour Loubnan Explore our Achievements Plantation Sites Since 2008…

We planted With the We efficiently A K Tarchich 119,452 418 195,759 trees assistance of organized B Harf Shlifa & Btedhi L Al Akoura From 30 over 5000 volunteers, Over 70 awareness 26,950 300 native species sessions C Aynata, M Mayss el Jabal the Lebanese Army and South lebanon 300 On more than 3 million French, Spanish and For more than 1,000 16,924 Majdal Silm square meters, i.e. 300 Nepalese UNIFIL soldiers STUDENTS, SCOUTS D N 200 hectares, and officers AND YOUTH CLUBS 9,300 O Shaqra E Chabrouh 200 In 19 different 7,874 regions of Lebanon, P Markaba F Ebl El Saki 200 6,465 Q Balaa G Ehden 100 We actively We established and We’ve had numerous 3,500 R Bkosta participated are successfully articles published H Damour 60 operating a in several 1,500 in dozens of fairs S Mtein laboratory I Zaarour 41 and exhibitions, LOCAL NEWSPAPERS 1,400 and magazines. B several workshops and for seed germination J Bteddine seminars and conservation. 500 A countless local TV and Radio programs.

We launched 4 We organized We initiated the successful massive FOUR successful GREEN PROGRAM FOR Awareness Media Gala diners REAL ESTATE AND Campaign on CAR DEALERS 5 local TV stations, TOTAL 6 radio stations 195,759 and hundreds of billboards, unipoles, etc. trees

All of this was made possible by 14 Jouzour Loubnan dedicated members and more than 100 donors. 15 17 INCREASE THE WOODLAND AREA INCREASE THE WOODLAND AREA FOLLOW OUR PLANTATION METHODOLOGY In order to insure the long term tree survival we have defined a comprehensive In 2013, in order to optimize our plantation techniques, we have been trying several new plantation program based both on scientific grounds, thanks to our partnership with Saint protocols (1) Seed sowing in shades of nurse , (2) individual fencing, (3) plantation of bare root Joseph University, Faculty of science and, on empiric approaches, due to the lack seedlings and (4) plantation without irrigation. of prior experience we have in the forestation of some of our plantation areas: As a consequence we expect our overall survival rate to be reduced for the sake of long-term reforestation protocols optimization. The upcoming tests results will be published in our next issue and will show us which practice is optimal to the seedlings survival and is more cost efficient. • We plant only on municipal lands based on a • We apply plantation protocols insuring optimal contractual commitment from the municipality to survival rate after plantation. Professional supervision protect the forested area. is provided for each forestation campaign for as many years as needed. • We choose the species amongst the native trees (1) (2) in accordance with the studied ecosystem of • We install an irrigation system and insure regular Sowing without Individual fencing the targeted region. In addition, we strive to watering and guardianship through local personnel irrigation according to protects seedlings from enhance biodiversity through the choice of various for a period of 3 years. This increases the awareness various protocols reducing grazing keeping the native species including and small plants amongst the local community. The watering frequency significantly the cost of rest of the land open for well adapted to the local environment and its is decreased progressively every year. reforestation in areas grazing that reduces constraints. • We control on a regular basis the status of the trees where there is no grazing. fire hazard. • In regions with overgrazing, we either plant trees we have planted, the quality of the maintenance and over two-meters tall or fence the area to be planted the irrigation and guardianship services. and plant mainly 20 to 30 cm tall trees. In other (3) (4) regions, we plant mainly 20 to 30 cm tall trees. Using bare root Planting seedlings • We purchase the trees from selected local nurseries seedlings reducing without or with limited and for some species like Cedrus libani and potentially the cost of irrigation reducing Juniperus excelsa we perform genetic analysis in reforestation by 1$ per potentially the cost of order to guarantee their origin. seedling. reforestation by 6$ per seedling.

In 2014, initial results were encouraging but not statistically significant so we decided to expand the tests on various regions in order to assess the survival rates according to type of trees, location, irrigation type, and many other significant parameters. allowing for hundreds of square kilometers to be reforested.

19 retail group retailgrp.com

ACCESSORIZE ALDO ALDO ACCESSORIES CALL IT SPRING CHARLES & KEITH CORTEFIEL LA SENZA LA VIE EN ROSE MONSOON MONSOON CHILDREN NINE WEST OKAIDI PUMPKIN PATCH STEVE MADDEN WOMEN’SECRET

21

/RETAILGROUP

rg ad.indd 1 5/5/15 1:35 PM INCREASE THE WOODLAND AREA INCREASE THE WOODLAND AREA Damour Plantation Campaign 600 rovers from “Les Scouts du Liban” plant 1500 native trees with Jouzour Loubnan

It is already 8:30 AM on this morning of November 30 This initiative falls under a larger plantation campaign of 2014 when the Jouzour Loubnan team arrived to the 60,000 trees to be planted and protected within this site Damour site to get ready before the scouts arrival. The in collaboration with the municipality of Damour. anticipation is high. The plantation site had already been divided into 8 plots in which each group will be planting. Soon after, buses with around 600 energetic young “The contribution of the youth of Lebanon is volunteers from the Rovers Branch of the “Les Scouts du Liban”, boys and girls coming from all regions of vital to our mission, as they are the hope of Lebanon, reached the site in Damour. We could feel their tomorrow and they will be the ones protecting excitement to take part in this all-day long plantation our green land”. “We invite all the people from activity entitled “Sow on Good Soil”. The army is there all age ranges, families and friends, to support too and so are the Red Cross and the Mayor and officials and contribute to our green mission” from the municipality of Damour. Even the locals started showing up, wanting to give us a hand and participate to this big green day… Mr. Raoul Nehme, president of Jouzour Loubnan The Scouts’ mission that day was to plant 1,500 addressed the volunteers and the participants upon native trees and 1.500 seeds. their arrival pinpointing that:

Jouzour Loubnan team started by welcoming the scouts and all the participants and by raising awareness on the important role played by forests in Lebanon and According to the Art. 6 of the scout law “The the threats of desertification. They also explained what scout sees in nature the work of God protects was the NGO’s mission, highlight its achievements and animals and plants”. Our role as rovers is to explain why are we planting in Damour and where the take care of our land and try to make this specificities of this region and the soil. This quick brief world a better place. Our Journey Goal urges was followed by a training on the best practices to plant us to take the initiative and react to this trees and how to insure their survival. Our members and team of volunteers also provided the trees which varied present and to “Sow on the good soil” which between Pine, Carob, and other native trees. Four hours is our country Lebanon”. later, the group successfully accomplished its mission planting all trees and seeds provided to them. Rawad Khalaf, Commissioner of the Rovers branch of “Les Scouts du Liban” declared that:

23 INCREASE THE WOODLAND AREA NAME OF STUDENT | Alba DISCOVER OUR new forest in Jezzine Region | Toumet Niha, Jezzine Area | 500,000 m2 Trees | 32,000 native seedlings Date | OCTOBER 2014 - OCTOBER 2018

This project will be executed in Within the scope of this project, (3) To promote environmental partnership with the Ministry of Jouzour Loubnan plans awareness by sensitizing the youth, Agriculture within the framework locals and influential stakeholders (1) To increase the woodland area of the 40 million tree program, and decision-makers to save in Toumet Niha and participate under the EU Agriculture and Rural Lebanon’s natural resources and its in the restoration of its degraded Development Program (ARDP) and forests, and by raising knowledge high mountain eco-system in is financed by the EU and Jouzour and environmental awareness on the close partnership with the Jezzine Loubnan. multi-purpose forest functions for municipality by planting 32,000 trees protection, restoration, conservation of native species and 4,000 seeds and economic development on a on a total site area of approximately Jouzour Loubnan has selected for local, regional and national level. 400 dunums on a municipal land. this project Toumet Niha in Jezzine, Jouzour Loubnan has already one of the regions most affected (2) To empower Jezzine worked in close collaboration by deforestation in Lebanon. It municipality, to protect, manage, with the local authorities and constitutes a high potential ground promote and benefit from the project municipalities of the Southern region to accomplish a multi-purpose and train its personnel at performing of Lebanon, namely Ebl el Saqi and reforestation initiative in line with the efficiently reforestation activities, Ainata. These initiatives have been 40 million trees program launched while increasing its role in regional a great success and they have left by the Lebanese Government in forestation development. a positive impression and deep December 2012, and steered by the sense of gratitude from the local Ministry of Agriculture in order to community. plant 40 million forest trees in public lands within the next 20 years.

25 plant with A SCientific background 27 PLANT WITH A SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND ENTER INTO OUR LABORATORY

Context Achievements

The regeneration and management of woodlands in the To date, 300 different Lebanese native species were Mediterranean needs particular attention: the role of plant harvested in the wild according to predefined scientific cover is essential for mitigating desertification processes. protocols respecting a minimal number of plants and a minimum distance between contributing plants. Forestation is often limited to a narrow number of species which are easy to grow in nurseries. This Seeds were then cleaned, measured, weighed, dried and practice greatly reduces levels of biodiversity and it stocked at 4°C: is even more worrisome with regards to shrubs and minor hardwood which are the greater part of the • Germination protocols were defined for 50 different Mediterranean woody flora. species.

Beside cedars and juniper, many other trees • More than 1,000 small seedlings, grown in our of economic and/or of ecological interest are germination room belonging to different native species, present in Lebanese mountains. Restoring these were transferred to a nursery in Bejjeh, Jbeil to be used in ecosystems requires the use of dozens of plant our future campaigns near this region. species to rebuild strong and resilient ecosystems. Recent international research results highlighted • More than 200 seedlings, grown in our germination the positive effects of biodiversity. room belonging to Juniperus, Cedrus, Abies, Quercus, were transferred to a nursery in Kfardebian to be used in Unfortunately, there are few nurseries producing our future campaigns in this region. Lebanese native species. Learning how to propagate these ‘new’ plants properly, including those deserving a • More than 150 other seedlings were transferred to wider use as drought-tolerant, can be a great challenge APJM (Association pour la Protection de Jabal Moussa) as well as a powerful tool to combat desertification and nurseries in accordance with our partnership agreement. enhance biodiversity. • Bulbs and rhizomes for more than 10 endemic or Jouzour Loubnan took the initiative in 2009 of creating endangered species have been collected and stocked for the LABORATORY FOR SEED GERMINATION AND ex-situ conservation as well as for a future botanic garden CONSERVATION (LSCG) dedicated to this purpose. collection.

Moreover, before each plantation campaign with Cedrus libani or Juniperus excelsa trees, genetic tests were performed in the molecular biology laboratory of the Faculty of Science at Saint Joseph University to verify their Lebanese origin.

29 PLANT WITH A SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND

Conservation of forest genetic resources

Forests and trees enhance and The orographic complexity of the Along with population growth, the Conservation and sustainable main coniferous species in Lebanon : In tree improvement programs, protect landscapes, ecosystems and Lebanese mountains played a key role demand for energy and wood products management of FGR is therefore a Cedrus libani (Bou Dagher et al. 2007); biotechnology tools such as enhanced production systems. They provide in the evolution and the persistence of for both industrial and domestic uses is must to ensure that present and future Juniperus excelsa (Douaihy et al., 2011) vegetative propagation techniques and goods and services which are some Mediterranean tree species. Factors expected to increase by 40 percent in generations continue to benefit from Abies cilicica (Awad et al. 2014). marker-assisted tree selection are making essential to the survival and well- that currently lead to high precipitation the next 20 years (globally). forests and trees. Loss of plant species The genetic diversity of the populations significant contributions. Genomics is being of all humanity. Forest genetic in Mount Lebanon also operated during or species genetic erosion in forest is evaluated and recommendations also being used in forestry as a tool resources (FGR) are the heritable the glacial period, moderating the impact The demand for other forest-related ecosystems is mostly due to conversion are made in order to use the to enhance conservation, for example materials maintained within and of regional aridity on tree populations. goods (food, medicine, fodder and of forest to other land use types, adequate genetic material. Taking through the development of DNA banks. among tree and other woody plant Today, however, the role of these refugia other commodities) is also predicted overexploitation and effects of climate. into consideration such information Biotechnology offers innovative means of species that are of actual or potential in the persistence of relict species could to increase. A major consequence of when choosing genetic resources for controlling illegal forest harvesting, with economic, environmental, scientific be limited by rapid climatic change and population pressure is land-use change. The best way to conserve FGR is in situ reforestation is a key issue for restoration DNA fingerprints (barcoding) now used in or societal value. FGR are essential human-induced land degradation. Forest conversion to crop and pasture conservation, in naturally regenerated success. It is judicious to target traits timber tracking and export and import of for the adaptation and evolutionary land, together with overexploitation, and planted forests. FGR management suitable for adaptation to varying seeds and plantlets for reforestation. processes of forests and trees as well The population size of Lebanon increased selective harvesting and high tree actions are usually undertaken at forest environmental conditions, including as for improving their productivity. from 2.6 million in 1980 to 4.3 million in mortality due to extreme climatic events, ecosystem, species (interspecific) or those associated with climate change. 2010. It is expected that the population in combination with regeneration failure, genetic (intraspecific) levels. An array will keep on increasing to reach 5.323 can result in local population extinction of biotechnological tools is contributing A high genetic diversity serves as a way million in 2045 (United Nations, World and the loss of FGR (The state of the to this knowledge. Genetic diversity for populations to adapt to changing Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision). world’s forest genetic resources – FAO- studies was already undertaken for the environments. Rome -2014)

31 33 PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

35 PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS Support us in SPREADING AWARENESS

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now” - Chinese proverb

1. Why is Jouzour 2. What are Jouzour Loubnan spreading Loubnan’s awareness awareness activities

• What are we shedding light on • Yearly outdoor campaign and With forests and woodlands covering media - targeting: the general public approximately less than 13.2% of the overall Lebanese surface, the general This year and for the fourth public is becoming more aware of consecutive year, Jouzour Loubnan the dangers of desertification on was proud to launch on the occasion present and future generations and of its annual fundraising gala dinner hence is getting more involved in the its national awareness campaign with “ بدي شجر لبنان! ساعدوني!” actions aiming at stopping the rapid the slogan deterioration in the forest wealth. (I want to plant trees in Lebanon! Today, our nation’s future relies on Help me!) voiced out by a young 2011 Campaign a well-educated public to look after optimistic Lebanese girl. the environment that sustains us. This campaign was broadcasted • Who are we targeting on all local TVs and radios and was published on most outdoors In this context and parallel media outlets (such as billboards, to our successful plantation unipoles, LED screens). It portrays campaigns, Jouzour Loubnan is a little girl whose dream is to plant strongly committed to spreading a tree, care for it and make it grow environmental awareness among the and she is asking us to join and help general public as well as educating, her in her mission. This campaign’s training and motivating young 2012 Campaign core message and objective is to generations (schools and universities engage each and every one of us students), scouts, civil society to participate in the reforestation associations, private corporations, efforts – and the young girl is leading municipalities’ officials and local by example. In previous awareness communities, other NGOs and campaigns, the main message international organizations, on the focused mostly on raising the alarm importance of reforestation and of the environmental threats of on the protocols of plantation, in desertification and the beneficial order to sustain and preserve the impact of forests on our health planted areas. and environment. 2013 Campaign

2014 Campaign 37 PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS Support us in SPREADING AWARENESS

• Stands in festivals and malls • Social Media - targeting: Jouzour 2. What are Jouzour Partner Target group It is one of our core Loubnan’s awareness - targeting: general public Loubnan supporters and followers missions to keep spread- LAU NGO fair- Thousands of LAU students/visitors activities Jouzour Loubnan takes part Finally, through the NGO’s website ing environmental Guide du Liban 150 persons in different fairs, festivals and www.jouzourloubnan.org and its awareness especially • School presentations and exhibitions targeting the general social media platforms (Facebook amongst the younger ABC ashrafieh green week hundred mall visitors workshops - targeting: students public aiming not only to raise and Instragram pages), the Jouzour generations aiming for awareness about reforestation in Loubnan team keeps the general In addition to our national awareness USJ - Operatin 7e jour Thousands of street visitors in Bourj Hamoud greener minds and a Lebanon but also to inform and public and its growing community of campaigns, Jouzour Loubnan healthier Lebanon. Broumana High school 100 students engage visitors in our plantation followers updated on its awareness organizes educational awareness campaigns and encourage them campaigns and activities, plantation seminars and edutainment activities Azadea at Le mall dbayeh Azadea at Le mall Saida to help us by joining our efforts days and other special events. These in partnership with local schools and Thousands mall vistors Azadea at Beirut Souks and becoming volunteers. Several platforms are also used to shed the 3. How can you universities located all across the Azadea at Le mall sin el fil edutainment workshops and videos light on other green initiatives and contribute to spreading country of the Cedars. During these are also presented on these stands green tips. awareness? educational sessions, students from College Apotres 60 students depending on the target audience. different ages and backgrounds St Louise 60 students learn more about Lebanon’s • Organize a workshop with your local community to highlight biodiversity and the vital role of trees St Josef Antoura 30 students • Plantation campaigns (public, in sustaining our rich and unique reforestation’s vital need SSCC Kfarhbab 60 students scouts, private groups) - targeting: environment. Students also take part eco-friendly supporters • Invite Jouzour Loubnan team to in practical and recreational activities German school Jounieh 30 students in which they learn to associate each Moreover, our awareness strategy your local fairs and activities to help tree with its seeds and fruits so they Jesus & Mary school Rabieh 15 students targets groups from different us reach out can identify them while strolling in St Michel school Sahel el Alma 30 students ages and backgrounds. Jouzour the nature. Loubnan organizes many awareness • Educate your family, friends Lycee Amshit 60 students and plantation activities in and children on the threats of desertification and benefits of Leo beirut gate- AUST beirut AUST students partnership with Scout du Liban and Guide du Liban, as well as forests Franciscaines 100 participants other associations (Lebanese red • Share Jouzour Loubnan’s Baabdat municipality Residents of Baabdat & surrounding areas cross, etc..), private corporates, special groups etc… During these awareness campaign messages on Scout du Liban 30 chef scouts joyful public and private plantation your social media networks

Sainte Famille Fanar 100 students days, Jouzour Loubnan members train the participants (students, • Create your own awareness green College Antonin Roumieh 90 students families, employees, children) on messages and share them on our pages Notre Dame Sahel Alma 180 students the protocol of plantation and work with them all day to plant as 200 students/ then stand for • Join our public plantation days College Besancon Baabda many trees as possible. Jouzour all the complementary school Loubnan also provides all the • Donate to support Jouzour Lebanese Universty 10 forestry students from UL needed material (seeds, small trees, plantation tools, etc..), and looks Loubnan’s green mission Lycee La Martine_Tripoli 300 students after the planted trees for at least 3 years (irrigation and protection) 200 students/ then stand for SSCC Jdeideh until the roots of those baby trees all the complementary school have grown accustomed to their Red Cross 30 participants new environment.

College Antonin Roumieh 200 students

CHECK OUT OUR NEXT ARTICLE ON ‘HOW TO GET INVOLVED’

39 BEIRUTING AD

41 43 PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS How to get involved

We are all concerned by the fast reduction of native woodlands areas in Lebanon. Thus, each of us Are you in the real Are you a Car Dealer / Are you a Media, PR or can contribute to the reforestation effort. You can help our mission and support our activities first estate development field? Car re-seller? Advertising Company? and foremost by contributing financially or by taking part in our fundraising annual gala dinner. Yet, besides donations, you have a wide array of possibilities and opportunities to join us in saving You can join Jouzour Loubnan Real You can join Jouzour Loubnan Car You can support our cause by Lebanon’s forests and green surface. Estate Reforestation Program: “1m² Dealers Reforestation Program: offering us free ad spaces for our of newly created forest for each m² “one tree planted for each new car annual awareness campaigns or by built” for a marginal cost of 2$/m² sold”. Practically this will range from covering our activities and spreading that can be shared with the acquirer. Are you young and $10 to $50 per car sold (depending the news to the mass public on This program allows you to promote motivated or have a young on the horse power) which covers different media portals. your environmental awareness the cost of 1 up to 5 trees including Are you socially or politically active and motivated spirit? image and can be used in all of your 3-year irrigation, maintenance and or a key opinion leader? You may marketing and sales strategies and guardianship. This program allows assist in the political awakening You can participate in our plantation promotional materials. A certificate you to promote your environmental of the Lebanese Government and campaigns. We announce them will be provided for each of your awareness image and can be used its commitment to implement a regularly on our website clients and your project will be in all of your marketing and sales serious plan in the regulatory field www.jouzourloubnan.org and on referenced in all of our publications, strategies and promotional materials. in the application of the law, in the Jouzour Loubnan social media on our website and our social A sticker will be co-designed and put protection and development of our platforms (Facebook Page / networks. You may have as well free on each car sold in order to promote woodland heritage. Instagram Account). advertising in our annual magazine. this program and your project will be referenced in all of our publications, on our website and our social We cannot forget that the fight Are you a private company networks. You may have as well free for forestation is a worldwide and want to reduce your advertising in our annual magazine. environmental footprint? fight, each of us can participate by already protecting our You can organize a planting campaign for the employees of existing forest, but also by your company and their families using recycled or certified or even your clients or suppliers. paper, i.e. paper produced from These corporate events have been extremely appreciated by the sustainable forests. You can also companies to date. Typically, you contribute by simply using both arrive on the prepared site in the sides of the papers and recycling morning and after a short training, them afterword. Not only will the campaign starts under the supervision of Jouzour Loubnan you play an active role in the team assisted by professionals. It protection of the worldwide lasts for 2 to 3 hours after which, woodland heritage, but mainly tired but happy, you would gather around a corporate lunch. It is an your return on investment will exciting team building event, and be less than 3 years. an awareness experience for all participants about the importance of protecting and developing our woodland heritage.

45 47 otv ad

49 PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS Lebanon e-Flora

The Lebanon e-flora website www.lebanon-flora.org is a large, free access database of detailed information on Lebanese plant species, including, but not limited to, their altitudinal distribution, flowering period, presence in national nature reserves as well as numerous photographs and descriptions for easy identification.

The Mediterranean region is one of the biodiversity Lebanon from the sea to the highest summits. “hotspots” of the world but this is threatened by The Lebanon e-flora database is dynamic and constantly climate change and human activities. Lebanon, due improving, with increasing information available and to its complex topography and hydrography, is rich in the involvement of more people, scientists and amateur biodiversity with over 3,500 plant species identified. botanists. In 2013, L’observatoire Libano- Francais de The benefits of this project are immense for both l’environnement O-Life has hosted Lebanon e-flora conservation and awareness. Centralization of data as one of its core projects as a national database for and information on the location of rare or endemic flora in Lebanon and a model to develop database for plant species will result in a better understanding of biodiversity in Lebanon. Lebanese flora and this is essential to biodiversity management and conservation. Previously inaccessible information on botany in Lebanon will now be available to everyone, anywhere in the world. This project was realized under the direction of Pr. One goal is to make as many citizens as possible aware of Magda BOU DAGHER KHARRAT head chief of the the diversity of local flora as well as its fragility, heritage Life and Earth Sciences Department at the Faculty of and medicinal importance and, finally, to involve everyone Sciences of Saint Joseph University. in this adventure to protect environmental biodiversity in Lebanon. The website creation is the result of a huge effort involving the work of ancient and contemporary botanists, the participation of twenty local researchers from different Lebanese institutions (universities, CNRS, NGOs) and images shared by hikers all over

51 FINAL-Corporate.pdf 1 4/27/15 5:10 PM

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

53 PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

The project focuses on the identification of the optimal procedures to make the use of native plant species favorable ACTIVITY 1 for both habitat restoration actions and establishment of green areas.

ECOPLANTMED Project For this purpose 2400 cedars and Juniperus plantlets and many other selected taxa seeds were planted following different protocols. The pilot projects will represent a good test bench for The project ECOPLANTMED: “ECOlogical use of native PLANTs for environmental restoration and sustainable the reproducibility and applicability of the obtained results and the developed procedures in similar cases. development in the MEDiterranean region” is a joint Mediterranean initiative based on the collaboration among Figure 3: Juniperus excelsa seedling plantation – A: with irrigation seed banks, research institutes and institutions dealing with native plant conservation and management. Lead without plant nurse – B: without irrigation with plant nurse. by the CIHEAM - Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania (, Kriti), Ecoplantmed is a partnership between: University of Cagliari (Italy, Sardegna), Saint Joseph University (Lebanon), Generalitat Valenciana, (Spain, Work package 6: B - Seeds Sowing Comunidad Valenciana) and National Research Institute for Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry (Tunisia, Ariana). 3330 seeds belonging to five different species (Cedrus libani, The pilot site of our study is divided into 8 different plots and is Crataegus monogyna, Cotoneaster nummularia, Juniperus The project aims to contribute to halting the loss of biodiversity and to promote a sustainable development model in the located in Kfardebian (kaza of Kesrewan in the mouhafazat of Mount- excelsa, and Rosa canina) were sown in two different plots, Mediterranean region by enhancing the conservation of native plants and promoting their use in habitat restoration and the Lebanon) on the western slopes of Mount-Lebanon. following an experimental design to study the effect of the plant production sector. ECOPLANTMED is co-financed by the European Union through the ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin presence or absence of a plant nurse. A different number of Program with Grant contract Identification number 8/77 of 16.01.2014. The project was selected under the 2nd call for standard sowing spots is chosen for each species to put a certain number projects and addresses Priority 2: Promotion of environmental sustainability at the basin level, and Measure 2.1: Prevention and of seeds (figure 4, 5 & 6) reduction of risk factors for the environment and enhancement of natural common heritage. The project ECOPLANTMED total budget is 1.050 million Euro and it is financed, for an amount of 0.945 million Euro (90%), by the European Union (ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin Program) through the European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument.

Context: Specific objective

Besides being one of the world’s most bio-diverse regions, the To promote the conservation, enhancement and sustainable use Mediterranean Basin is also considered amongst the four most of native plants of the Mediterranean for ecological restoration significantly altered biodiversity hotspots of the planet. Many of degraded habitats and for the development of new economic valuable native plants are threatened with extinction due to the sectors by improving the management capacity of local actors A - Seedlings plantation degradation of their habitats and related environmental risks, 2400 seedlings of Cedrus libani and Juniperus excelsa, were which mainly originate from human activities. This inestimable The project is composed from 6 different Work Packages (WP). planted in six plots separated by 200 meters each, three plots natural heritage should therefore be protected and enhanced The work package 6 is coordinated by the Laboratory of Seed Figure4: Sown seeds species | A: Crataegus monogyna | B: Cedrus libani to the east and three to the west, following an experimental C: Cotoneaster nummularia | D: Rosa canina | E: Juniperus excelsa through the improvement of local actors management capacity Germination and Conservation (LSGC) - Faculty of Science design to study three different ecological parameters: Irrigation, in order to implement preventive measures able to combine Saint Joseph University. WP6 has as objective the development plant nurse and exposition. economic purposes with ecological restoration. of a restoration methodology, based on the use of local genetic resources. Each plot contains 400 seedlings: 200 cedars seedlings and Combating the loss of biodiversity and promoting a sustainable 200 seedlings, then each 200 seedlings were divided development model in both sides of the Mediterranean is the In Lebanon, the pilot actions will be conducted in Kfardebian in in four different treatment categories(figure 2 and 3). challenge that ECOPLANTMED project intends to face. Local very close collaboration with Jouzour Loubnan. administrators will be encouraged to respect the commitments deriving from international conventions (such as the Convention on Biological Diversity) thanks to a common environmentally model significantly contributing to a joined development of the Mediterranean eco-region. Figure 5: Cedrus libani seed sowing | A: without plant nurse | B: with plant nurse.

Figure 2: The experimental design of seedling planting in each 1 ha plot.

55 PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS Activity 2 Expansion of International Conference THE CONFERENCE the Laboratory TOPICS for Seed Conservation and Germination CALL FOR We are glad to invite you to submit research papers to ECOPLANTMED The Conference focuses on ecological restoration PAPERS of Mediterranean type habitats (forests, coastal/ In fact, five more additional rooms will be added to the current International Conference hosted by dune habitats, arid areas, wetlands, etc.) that laboratory situated at the Faculty of Sciences of Saint Joseph the project partner Saint Joseph Uni- faced degradation by urban development, fire, University of Beirut in order to have more space for seed versity (USJ), in Beirut, Lebanon on invasive species, overgrazing, quarries, mines, etc. treatment, seed germination and conservation. 15 and 16 October 2015. It will address issues such as: cases of restoration of Mediterranean habitat types, criteria to select ECOPLANTMED project will be providing part of the new species for restoration purposes, importance of equipment for the new facility and Jouzour Loubnan will be the seed banks in conservation of plants for res- financing the remaining costs. toration, genetic quality of plants, morpho-physio- logical quality of plants… In this same context, and because training the staff is vital ABOUT ECOPLANTMED Two keynotes speakers, Jordi Cortina and Thiery to the operation of the new facility, Ramy Sakr the field and Dutoit, will be shedding the light on ecological laboratory technical assistant participated in an internship for The project ECOPLANTMED: “ECOlogical use of restoration and related topics. students who are interested to learn new techniques in cleaning, native PLANTs for environmental restoration and Plants and trees play a critical role in maintaining life on this counting, stocking and germinating seeds of native species of sustainable development in the MEDiterranean planet. They sit at the base of the trophic pyramid, providing the Mediterranean ecosystems. region” is a joint Mediterranean initiative based on CONFERENCE VENUE food all the way up the chain to humans at the top. They the collaboration among seed banks, research insti- provide services such as climate regulation and flood defense. The internship was held at the Seed Bank of MAICh University, tutes and institutions dealing with native plant con- ECOPLANTMED International Confer- They contribute to soil formation and nutrient cycling, and they Greece from February 16th till February 25th, 2015 in the servation and management. The project aims to ence will be held at Saint Joseph Uni- provide us with shelter, medicines and fuel. Nowadays, hundred framework of ECOPLANTMED project. promote the conservation, enhancement and sustain- versity on its new Campus of Innova- thousands of plant species are threatened with extinction due to able use of Mediterranean native plants for habitat tion and Sports (CIS), Beirut, Lebanon. land-use change, over-exploitation, overgrazing, natural regeneration The main objectives of this internship: restoration and for the development of new problems, etc. economic sectors, by improving the management a. Learning new techniques of seed germination and getting capacity of local actors. ECOPLANTMED has a But, having a wide range of techniques available to us, there is familiar with the common germination protocols, total budget of 1.050 million Euro and it is financed, for PROCEEDINGS no technological reason why any plant species should become an amount of 0.945 million Euro (90%), by the Europe- extinct. Over 90% of seed-bearing species studied to date b. Working with new equipment, and learning The proceedings of all oral presentations their benefits and utilities, an Union under the ENPI CBC Mediterranean Sea Basin (invitational conferences and oral commu- produce desiccation tolerant (‘orthodox’) seeds. Following drying, orthodox seeds are capable of surviving long-term Programme 2007-2013. nications) will be published in a special c. Visualizing the different steps that seeds undergo in a seed storage under cold conditions. Theoretically, seeds may survive issue of Plant Sociology Journal. bank, starting from the cleaning process till their storage, for many decades, centuries and even millennia. After storage, seed dormancy can be removed, and it would be relatively easy d. Visualizing the herbarium belonging to the seed bank, and to germinate seeds and propagate plants. the different steps to establish a herbarium specimen. May 15, 2015: October 15, 2015: Therefore, Jouzour Loubnan is planning to expand the Deadline for abstract submissions. Onsite registration. CONFERENCE WEBSITE Laboratory for Seed Conservation and Germination, in order September 15, 2015: For more information about (1) to intensify seed conservation collaboration across Lebanon; Regular registration period ends. (2) to develop and implement a seed collecting plan that APRIL 16, 2016: the ECOPLANTMED International July 15, 2015: Conference, abstract submission prioritizes critically endangered species; (3) to conserve Deadline for sending Abstract review process complete. and registration, please visit plant taxa that are prioritized for urgent conservation in the papers to the president collecting plan through seed banking; (4) to research and July 30, 2015: of the organizing http://fs.usj.edu.lb/ecoplantmed/. disseminate data on the plant taxa collected for conservation Final program with date and time committee for publication. of all sessions available. and restoration activities and finally (5) to define germination protocols for species facing natural regeneration problem in-situ (in the wild).

57 PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS Activity 3 A new species of Juniper in Lebanon “Juniperus polycarpos”

J. excelsa

J. polycarpos

A l’Est de la région Méditerranéenne (ERM), plusieurs espèces de Genévriers (Juniperus) se développent et jouent des rôles clés dans leurs habitats respectifs. Tous les genévriers au Liban ont le même nom commun « Lezzab » alors qu’elles appartiennent à différentes espèces. Juniperus excelsa | Hermel | Quammouah

Les espèces J. excelsa, J. foetidissima ont des aires de répartition qui se recouvrent, alors que J. polycarpos aurait une répartition plus à l’est vers Géorgie, , la péninsule arabique et .

J. excelsa est l’espèce la plus répandue à l’Est de la région méditerranéenne avec des formations pures plus ou moins ouvertes. J. foetidissima, morphologiquement très proche de J. excelsa, se différencie de cette dernière par son feuillage plus épais ayant une couleur verte plus foncée et surtout Juniperus oxycedrus | Ras el Abd grâce aux cônes femelles qui ont moins d’écailles et contiennent uniquement une ou deux graines. La distribution de Juniperus foetidissima | Quammouah J. foetidisima est liée à celle de J. excelsa Il s’est avéré que ces deux populations mais avec une aire de distribution plus appartenaient à Juniperus polycarpos septentrionale et plus réduite. (Adams et al., 2014).

D’autre part, lors des travaux de Des études écologiques (Douaihy et al., recherche précédents conduit dans 2013), biométriques (Douaihy et al., 2012) notre laboratoire (Douaihy et al. 2011, et biochimiques (Adams et al., 2014) 2012 ; Adams 2014), nous avons mis appuient également cette découverte. en évidence la présence de Juniperus La forte ressemblance morphologique polycarpos au Liban alors que dans la entre ces deux taxons rend leur littérature l’aire de répartition de ce distinction difficile, alors que dernier s’arrêterait à l’ouest de l’Iran. Juniperus polycarpos | Aarsal génétiquement, deux pools bien distincts Available in all bookstores En effet, Douaihy et al. (2011) a décelé peuvent être discernés. For more info or to order (01)739.777 ext.143 dans le lot des populations de Juniperus excelsa étudiées, deux populations qui se distinguent nettement des autres.

59 EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITIES

61 EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITIES ARCENCIEL ACHIEVEMENTS 2014

Arcenciel is a non-profit, apolitical and non-confessional association established in 1985. Its mission is to participate in the sustainable development of society by supporting vulnerable communities and integrating marginalized individuals. On November 18,1995, the organization was recognized of public utility by the presidential decree N.7541. arcenciel conducts its operations through 8 programs and 13 centers spread over the whole Lebanese territory.

2014 has been an active year for arcenciel; we served people from all walks of life, landed regional environmental and agricultural projects, continued our internal restructuring...

These numbers include products and services physically provided to people, they exclude: • the impact of treating the waste produced by 80% of hospitals in Lebanon • the impact of recycling more than 360 tons of solid waste • the impact on people’s well-being of our agricultural program • the 100,000 visits at our ecotourism domain in Taanayel

219 persons 80, 000 2.6 million PER day people served services provided

In 2014, arcenciel was awarded: • Chevalier dans l’Ordre national de la Légion d’Honneur by the French Government • The UN Intercultural Innovation Award - by the UN Alliance Of Civilizations • The National Energy Globe Award - by Advantage Austria, rep. the Republic of Austria • The Award for Impact on Civil Peace - by the NGO collective Wahdatouna Khalasouna • The Best Idealistic NGO award - by the UNDP and the Lebanese Ministry of Social Affairs • The Earth Card - by the UNDP and the Banque Libano-Francaise • The Waterfront City Cares Trophy - by Waterfront City

since its creation arcenciel has provided more than 37 million services to over 380,000 beneficiaries

63 EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITIES Lebanon Mountain Trail Thru Walk 2015

For the 7th consecutive year, the During the Thru Walk, we’re 3- THE CHURCH OF SARKIS AND Lebanon Mountain Trail Association shedding the light on 4 of them. BAKHOUS IN QOBAYET is organizing its annual April Thru- - North of Lebanon Walk where a team of Thru Walkers 1-THE ROMAN TEMPLE COMPLEX The church of Sarkis and Bakhous will hike the entire 470 km from - Mount Lebanon was built in honor of 2 saints (Sergius Andqet in the North to Marjaayoun One of the most important religious and Bacchus), who became martyrs in the South. They are joined sanctuaries lying above Jbeil with strong beginning of the 4th c. A.D. The Saints throughout the trek, by other hikers religious significance to the inhabitants were officers in the Roman army in . who participate for varying durations of the city of . The temple was Their Christian faith was revealed when (weekends, weeks, etc.) constructed in honor to Achtarout asked to attend to sacrifices to the God (Venus), the Goddess of Beauty and Zeus. They were ultimately tortured 120 hikers from 13 countries will be lover of Adonis, the God of Desire to death by the Romans in 303 A.D. participating in the 2015 Thru Walk and Beauty. The temple was partially As a result, there are many churches destroyed in 523 A.D. by the emperor around the Middle East dedicated to This year we are walking for our Cultural Constantine the Great due to its pagan their martyrdom. The church is said to and Archaeological Heritage. significance. As a result, the temple of date to the 5th-7th c. A.D. according Many generations took the trails Achtarout/Venus was transformed into a to local present day historians. Further before us. They left behind cultural and Christian church. archaeological scientific research is archaeological remains and assets that needed on site. we need to take pride in and safeguard 2- THE EMIRS CHEHAB CITADEL OF 4- THE HADRIAN INSCRIPTION OF for our benefit and for the benefit of the HASBAYA - South of Lebanon TANNOURINE - North of Lebanon generations to come. Unfortunately many The citadel has a rich history that goes of these sites are degrading and slowly The Roman inscription carved into back to the Roman times, if not earlier. disappearing either by neglect or by lack the rock depicts the region’s historic There is evidence of a previous Roman of funds. They urgently need attention character. A decree imposed by the temple of which no remains are visible and conservation! Roman Emperor Hadrian (117 to 138) other than foundation base blocks. forbids its citizens to cut down namely Excavations might reveal more. The juniper, oak, cedar and pine trees and present status goes back to the late 12th reminds the indigenous of the right of c. from the Crusaders period, where a the emperor on these forests. During the military watch tower was built to survey April Thru-Walk, the LMTA is organizing the area. cultural stops at each of the sites to shed the light on their importance. Cleaning activities by hikers, volunteers and local communities are scheduled.

65 EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITIES Let your GIFTS Forest fire be Eternal, research at the University of Choose wisely Balamand

Increasingly, Lebanon’s forests in developing research and studies for climate proved to have increasing trends are exposed to degradation due improved assessment, monitoring, and of drought promoting recurrent, larger, to urbanization, fires, climate management of wildfire risk in Lebanon. and more intense and severe wildfires change, human neglect, improper These are considered as necessary steps in the near future, especially with management, outdated laws, and to help in developing the capacity of the continuous lack of implementing poor law enforcement. During the stakeholders in assessing and adaptively Lebanon’s National Strategy for forest last decades, changes in traditional managing wildfire risk in Lebanon. fire management (Decision No.52-2009) land-use and lifestyles, depopulation Most recently, the Program finished and proper forest management planning. of rural areas, decreases in grazing a 2-year project entitled “Towards a The results of the USAID-PEER project pressure and wood gathering, and better assessment and management most of which can be accessed through a increases in the urbanization of rural of wildfire risk in the Wildland-Urban web-application tool called FireLab areas are leading to the recovery Interface in Lebanon: gaining from the (ioe-firelab.balamand.edu.lb) in of vegetation and an increase in US experience” funded by the US Agency addition to the results from pilot accumulated fuel. for International Development (USAID) community-based fire risk management and supported by the Partnerships for project, previously developed and Land-use changes are found to be Enhanced Engagement in Research implemented in partnership with parallel to the changes in the fire (PEER) in agreement with the US Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI), regime, from being few in number and National Academies of Science (NAS). are expected to pave the way towards affecting small areas, to becoming According to Dr. George Mitri, the a better assessment and management very numerous and affecting large Program Director and the Principal of wildfire risk in Lebanon, and to extensions every year. Although the Investigator of the project, 33% of contribute to better legislative measures main reason for fire increase in the the Lebanese territory (including in the forestry sector. last decades is changes in land use, forests, shrublands, and grasslands) is Contact: climatic factors should be considered characterized by moderate to very high George Mitri, Ph.D. as a contributing factor. In this context, risk of fires, while the average length of Director of the Biodiversity Program the Biodiversity Program at the Institute the fire season is 147 days knowing that Institute of the Environment, the season can extend up to 200 days of the Environment, University of University of Balamand - Lebanon in some years. In addition, Lebanon’s Balamand has been extensively involved Email: [email protected]

CEDARS BOX : Adoption Kit CEDARS BOX : Ready to Plant

Thanks to the “CEDARS BOX”, (a concept developed by Clement Tannouri), contributing to the preservation of the Cedar of Lebanon and the reforestation of the country’s largest natural heritage, is now Simpler than Ever. Indeed, “CEDARS BOX” gives you the opportunity to adopt a Cedar Tree, give it a Life and a Land on which it can grow so that in turn, it becomes a witness to our existence and history.

No need to have a green thumb or to climb mountains. In fact, it is the association “Jouzour Loubnan” that will plant the Cedar Tree that you will be adopting. And since the adoption is done online, all it requires is a simple click. “CEDARS BOX” is a generous gesture that is rich in meanings and importance and is within everyone’s reach. For more info: [email protected] 67 AGA ADK Beirut.pdf 1 5/7/15 3:58 PM

EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITIES

UNE CEDRAIE SUR UN TERRAIN PRIVE

En 1974, Elie Badaro décide de Une dizaine de personnes s’attellent planter des cèdres. a les planter d’une façon arbitraire, en “Si chaque creusant des trous d’une trentaine de Il rentre en contact avec son ami John centimètres. libanais avait Stephens, P.D.G. d’une multinationale: “International Paper Company”. Des 8.000 plants, non irrigués, il est resté fait pareil, 3.000 qui ont donné, 40 ans plus tard, A la demande d’Elie Badaro, John des arbres qui mesurent dix mètres en Stephens expédie par avion 8.000 plans moyenne. on aurait de Cedrus Libani. En 2001, Kamal Elie Badaro décide de reboiser Ces plants, après avoir souffert dans lotir cette parcelle et de réserver la des entrepôts, seront acheminés vers portion plantée de cèdres comme jardin notre Liban” Laklouk et plantés dans une parcelle de public comme le prescrit la loi. terrain qui appartient a sa femme, Layla Kamal Badaro Younes Badaro. Désormais, ces cèdres pousseront dans un climat propice, a 2.000 mètres d’altitude, en mémoire de feu Elie Badaro qui disait:

69 EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITIES USAID’s LRI Promotes a Greener Lebanon

Over decades, Lebanon has been “The Cooperative of Native Tree In line with LRI’s strategy to sustain increasingly facing environmental Producers of Lebanon,” developing and continually improve reforestation challenges causing serious damage an advanced mapping platform, and efforts, LRI organized a workshop on to its forests and leading to the replicating new approaches for wildfire the 23rd of April, 2015 on the occasion degradation of its green cover. management. of Earth Day under the title “Sharing Modern Reforestation Techniques for To overcome these challenges, hundreds LRI also strived to empower women and the Sustainability of EARTH’s Forests.” of men and women in more than a involve them in the environmental cause. The workshop, which was attended by dozen communities throughout the For two consecutive years, LRI celebrated various reforestation stakeholders in country committed themselves to Women’s Day by engaging women and the country, established a reforestation restore the damaged ecosystems of their their families in a public reforestation platform that helps ensure the communities and improve the livelihoods day. This year more than 200 volunteers sustainability of Lebanon’s forests. of future generations, an effort that from various Lebanese regions gathered resulted in the planting of more than half to plant 1,000 native seedlings. Through all these activities, LRI is a million native trees since 2011. Their providing local communities and their work was facilitated by the Lebanon Furthermore, LRI launched its first constituent stakeholders with ownership Reforestation Initiative (LRI), a multi-year twining activity in January 2015, as part of reforestation projects, which helps program funded by the United States of a long-term twining program that promote success and longer-term Agency for International Development aims at partnering previously mentored sustainability. (USAID) and implemented by the United LRI communities with other surrounding States Forest Service (USFS). ones for the purpose of knowledge transfer, inter-sectarian dialogue, as well Beyond planting trees, LRI implemented as building a lasting bond between both numerous activities and achieved groups. Based on pre-defined selection significant technical improvements criteria, Kfar Denis was selected to be during the past four years, largely twinned with LRI previously mentored through its extensive community Rashaya community. Both communities engagement strategy and capacity organized their first joint planting activity building process. These activities include on March 26, 2015 in Kfar Denis, in the sharing reforestation best practices, presence of Heads of Municipalities of introducing new seedling production both villages. techniques, establishing

71 Ma.Sa.Ha., Ground floor, Facing Credit Bank, Main Road, Mansourieh, Lebanon | T (+961) 4 401 945 | M (+961) 3 249 766 A SINCERE APPRECIATION TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS