UK £2 www.thearabweekly.com Issue 169, Year 4 August 12, 2018 EU €2.50 Palestinian American to be first Start of haj Muslim woman in US Congress season Pages 6,17 Page 18 Climate change takes its toll on Lebanon’s millennium cedars Samar Kadi Beirut hey have capped Lebanon’s mountaintops for thou- sands of years. The Phoe- T nicians used their wood to build merchant ships and Egyp- tians used their resin to mummify the dead. Now the emblematic ce- dars of Lebanon (Cedrus Libani) are facing their biggest challenge — cli- mate change. Cedar forests covered 5,000 sq.km of Lebanon’s highlands in ancient times. They have outlived invaders, empires and modern wars but centuries of deforestation have reduced the forests to 20 sq.km. The trees, some 3,000 years old, Displaced Syrians queue to receive Russian aid in the northern Syrian town of Tal Rifaat. As the Syrian war Deep roots. Colombian singer thrive on moisture and cool tem- draws to a close with signs of a government offensive in Idlib on the Turkish border, the last province held by Shakira plants a tree in the peratures and their seeds need a rebel forces, the plight of the more than 11 million refugees — half of whom left Syria and fled to Turkey, Jordan, Cedar Reserve, last July. (AP) Lebanon and other countries — is back on the international agenda. UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator minimum amount of snow and rain Panos Moumtzis said that Idlib’s entire population of 2.5 million people could be displaced and moved towards for regeneration. However, with the Turkish border if there was a major battle. climate change, winters are shorter years ago envisioned the planting and there is less snow, a change of 30 million trees, including ce- that affects the cedar forests’ eco- dars, to increase the area of the for- system. ests in Lebanon from 13% to 20% of “The effect of climate change is the country’s area by 2020. there,” said Nizar Hani, director of “The strategy is primarily fo- Iran playing for time as the Cedar Biosphere in the Chouf cused on reforestation but the so- Mountains. lution is not by replanting trees,” “The seedlings, which normally Nemer said. “First, we need to take should stay buried in the snow for care of the health of the ecosystem US sanctions start to bite two to three months, are germi- in which the cedar trees and other nating in February instead of April trees are living.” Sanctions that went into effect August 7 target US dollar because the snow is melting very In the 1960s and 1970s, Lebanon ► early. That early germination puts had a Green Plan that replanted financial transactions, Iran’s automotive sector and the them at a very high risk of dying in many cedars but the plan was for- cold snaps,” Hani said. gotten during the 15-year civil war. purchase of commercial planes and metals, including gold. Because of climate change, ce- Cedars grow slowly, bearing no dar forests, which now are at a cones until they are 40-50 years Thomas Seibert A321 had been delivered, plus two itself or the missile programme.” minimum of 1,200 metres above old. When they are young by ce- A330s that were sold to a company Preparations for possible talks sea level, would be found at higher dar standards, they look much like that leased them to an Iranian cus- and the negotiations themselves altitudes and more suitable condi- other conifers but, after about 100 Istanbul tomer. would be a drawn-out process, tions, Hani said. years, they develop their distinc- Swiss railway company Stadler Zimmt added. Tehran would look The most lethal enemy of the ce- tive shape with branches stretching s US sanctions designed Rail said that its plans to deliver at the US presidential election dars are insects that were already parallel to the ground. to cripple Iran’s economy 960 subway cars were “frozen.” A in two years, hoping that Trump present in the forests’ ecosystem The majestic tree that is embla- take hold and additional spokesman for French automaker would not be re-elected. but have been developing at an zoned on Lebanon’s national flag, A ones are on the horizon, Renault confirmed that “it’s likely Before that, sanctions would hit increased rate because of climate currency and national airline is Iran is likely to play for time and that our development would be put harder, however. “November is change, said Nabil Nemer, of the seen as a unifying emblem by the avoid addressing core issues in on hold.” when the hammer drops: A serious agricultural sciences department at Lebanese and a reflection of their possible talks with Washington. Publicly, Iranian leaders put on a chunk of oil export revenue will the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik. country’s resilience to the mishaps Tehran has yet to give a definite brave face. Supreme Leader Ayatol- evaporate and Iranian banks will The Tannourine Cedar Forest of ancient and modern history. answer to US President Donald lah Ali Khamenei said there was no likely find themselves cut loose Natural Reserve has lost tens of Trump’s offer for negotiations. In reason for concern. “Nobody can from much of the international trees to insect infestations un- Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly May, Trump took the United States do anything,” Khamenei said on his banking system,” said Henry Rome known before the 1990s. Travel and Society section editor. out of the 2015 international nu- website. of the Eurasia Group in a briefing A national strategy for the pres- clear agreement, arguing that the On the streets of Iranian cit- note. ervation of green areas begun four P21 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Ac- ies, which have been rocked for Talks between the United States tion (JCPOA) gave Iran too many months by demonstrations against and North Korea had demonstrated loopholes to continue its nuclear rising inflation, corruption and a to the Iranians that negotiations programme, its ballistic missile dramatic drop of the value of the with Washington did not mean that development and its aggressive Iranian currency, some greeted steps had to be taken immediately. policies in the Middle East. The US the new sanctions with dismay. Tehran would try to set limits president said he is willing to ham- “The situation is not good right for US-Iranian talks. In any talks mer out a new deal in talks with now; nothing is clear,” carpenter with Trump’s administration, “the Tehran. Ebrahim Gholamnejad, 41, told the Iranian government will want to Iranian President Hassan Rohani Associated Press in Tehran. “The make sure its regional and defence has not ruled out meeting with US economy is turning into a jungle.” policies, including its support for officials, provided sanctions are There have been rumours that regional militias such as Hezbollah, lifted first. Trump and Rohani could meet in are off limits,” US intelligence plat- US sanctions that went into ef- September on the sidelines of the form Stratfor said in an analysis. fect August 7 target US dollar fi- UN General Assembly in New York. “Tehran managed to get assuranc- nancial transactions, Iran’s auto- Raz Zimmt, a research fellow and es from Washington during discus- motive sector and the purchase Iran expert at the Institute for Na- sions over the JCPOA between 2013 of commercial planes and metals, tional Security Studies at Tel Aviv and 2015 that the United States including gold. Many Iranians say University, said, while the pres- would not pursue regime change their leaders will need to “drink the sure of the US sanctions might con- in Iran.” poison cup” and negotiate with the vince Tehran to seek talks with the Critics say regime change is the United States eventually, Stronger Trump administration, Iran’s main real aim of US policies towards Iran measures against Iran’s oil sector focus in any negotiations would be but there is no momentum to that and central bank, suspended under to gain time and shield core issues end in the streets of Iran. Most pro- he heated rhetoric and the As Turkish authorities continue the JCPOA, are to be reimposed in from being placed on the table. testers are keen on keeping their spiral of reactions escalated to detain American pastor Andrew November. “They might be ready to negoti- demands economic, knowing the between Turkish President Brunson over accusations of in- German car and truck maker ate or renegotiate certain aspects ruthlessness of possible govern- T Recep Tayyip Erdogan and volvement in a coup attempt, rela- Daimler AG said it was withdraw- like the range of missiles or the time ment repression. “The security US President Donald Trump, with tions seem to be deteriorating fur- ing from Iran. European companies limits for nuclear activities” laid forces are brutal, efficient and loy- Washington doubling the steel and ther with Erdogan threatening to had known since Trump’s decision down in the JCPOA, Zimmt said in al,” said Rome. aluminium tariffs on Turkey and “start looking for new friends and in May that sanctions were return- an interview, “but they won’t talk the Turkish currency falling to un- allies” and Trump considering ad- ing. European plane-maker Airbus about issues considered to be an Thomas Seibert is an Arab Weekly precedented lows. ditional economic measures. at that time suspended deliver- insurance for the survival of the re- correspondent. ies to Iran; of 98 orders, only one gime, like the nuclear programme P2-3 P14 2 August 12, 2018 Cover Story US-Iran Tensions US-Iran talks at UN in doubt while sabre-rattling continues Thomas Frank Iran Initiative.