Categories of Protected Areas

Defining protected areas (PA) is an important step towards the acknowledgement of the ecological and cultural national heritage. Lebanon has been designating nature sites and landscapes as PAs since the 1930's, responsibility for such designation originally fell under the jurisdiction of Ministry of National Economy.

Since the establishment of the MoE in 1993, PAs establishment has been reattributed to the MoE. A specific category (Protected Fotrests) is under the mandate of MoA.

Within the framework of the Stable Institutional Structure for Protected Areas Management (SISPAM) project (2004-2006), MoE has exerted efforts and presented legally sound solutions for several concerns related to proper and sustainable PA management.

The current PAs in Lebanon are divided into three categories:

1. Nature Reserves established by laws since 1992;

Table 1                 Nature Reserves in Lebanon

Table 2                  Natural Sites under the Protection of MoE

Source: MoE, 2015

3. Protected forests established by MoA decisions (before 1996 based on the Law of Protection of Forest Wealth and Forests (Law 85 dated 1991); and after 1996, protected directly by the Law of Protection of Forests (Law 558, dated 24/07/1996) and through MoA ministerial decisions issued based on this Law).

Source: MoE-SISPAM 2006

In addition, there are many candidate natural areas that are in need of national protection.

Today, “Nature Reserves” is the most well-established, managed, and studied form of PAs in the country. For the purpose of protecting natural habitats and endemic and endangered species, Lebanon has created fifteen nature reserves.

Nature reserves are created through legislative texts defining their limits, objectives, prohibited and allowed activities within the reserves and within a 500-meter buffer zone, penalties, and management committees to be in charge of the reserves. To date only 6 out of the 15 reserves have management plans.

Nature reserves occupy around 2.7% of the country’s area and incorporate rich biodiversity with about 370 different kinds of birds and 2,000 types of plants and wild flowers, many of which are endemic to Lebanon. The nature reserves also host 30 species of mammals, including the wolf, hyena, wildcat, porcupine and squirrel.  

Nature reserves have an important role in the protection and sustainable management of natural resources, especially biodiversity. They constitute as well a crucial component in local and rural development, through the influx of visitors who contribute via ecotourism, in augmenting the income of local communities living within the area of natural reserves. The reserves’ committees always work on enhancing the benefits of local communities without compromising the reserve’s status by involving locals in their activities. For example, visiting and trekking guides are trained locals in all reserves, visits to the Palm Islands are solely scheduled via local fishermen and boat owners, and Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve implemented a rural development project whereby visitors are introduced to local crafts and can purchase local products labelled as products of the reserve.

Furthermore, nature reserves in Lebanon have a major awareness and educational role. Inventories of floral and faunal species are available for each reserve, research projects are ongoing as part of the reserves’ activities, knowledge is transferred through the reserves’ websites, pamphlets, brochures, books, television interviews, magazines, newspapers, and educational activities. One of many examples are the activities of the Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa (APJM); the APJM published a book for children entitled ‘Tabsoun Tabsoun’ and books for adults namely; ‘Guide des Flores’, ‘Guide des Arbres’ and ‘Biodiversity Album’. APJM conducts several animation events organized in various private and public schools and has more than one hundred and fifty published articles about Jabal Moussa Biosphere. Another example of a nature reserve that strongly works on promoting awareness and education is Al-Shouf Biosphere Reserve. Students are introduced to the rich biodiversity of the reserve and are taught to read animal prints and trails. An annual awareness activity entitled ‘Rally for Nature’ is conducted by Al-Shouf Reserve with the objectives of familiarizing the students and building up their knowledge on the importance of forests and biodiversity; reconnecting the young generations with nature; and exploring the trails of the reserve.

In order to better enhance the management of PAs, the MoE has prepared a new categorization system for PAs defining criteria for the establishment of each category in addition to their management objectives and modality. In 2002, the MoE created a first draft of the PAs Law; which was further amended in 2006 and then in 2012. The amendment included the following four categories with unique management objectives:

1-      Nature Reserve which is defined as a terrestrial or marine zone in which ecosystems, habitats and species of specific importance must be protected because they are either endemic, or rare or endangered. The conservation of those species and ecosystems may require maintenance or rehabilitation activities if needed, in a way that suits with the protection objectives, and that are described in a management plan; in order to ensure the conservation of those habitats and the species that they harbour.

2-      Natural Park which is defined as a vast rural territory, partially inhabited, with exceptional natural and cultural heritage, recognized nationally and deserving protection on the long term. A Natural Park can include one or more PAs or areas that might eventually become protected;  

3-      Natural Site and Monument which corresponds to an area containing one or more natural features of exceptional importance which deserve protection because of their  rarity , representativeness or beauty; and

4-      Hima which is defined as a Community Based Natural Resources Management (CBNRM) System that promotes Sustainable Livelihood, Resources Conservation, and Environmental Protection for the human wellbeing (UNU-INWEH). A Hima is under the supervision of the municipality, the union of municipalities or the Qaimaqam.

The draft Protected Areas Framework Law was submitted to the Parliament through the decree No. 8045 dated 25/4/2012 and was discussed by the Parliamentary Committees which approved its latest amendments and is currently pending final endorsement. The Draft application decree consequently developed sets the legal framework for the various categories of PAs including objectives, classification, management and financing mechanisms – making it possible for the bodies managing future natural parks to apply for loans and to work with the private sector.

Sites with International Classification

At the international level, some sites are recognized by international entities and conventions; i.e. World Heritage sites by UNESCO, Ramsar sites under the Ramsar Convention, and important Birds Areas (IBAs) under BirdLife International, Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance (SPAMI) under the Specially Protected Areas (SPA) and Biodiversity Protocol.

UNESCO-MAB has identified three sites as Biosphere Reserves:

• The Shouf  Biosphere Reserve (2005), which includes Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve and  Ammiq Wetland as well as 22 surrounding villages;
• The Jabal Al Rihane Biosphere Reserve (2007); and
• The Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve (2008).

The Valley of Qannoubine and the Arz El Rab Cedar Forests are listed as cultural landscapes by UNESCO World Heritage.

Four Ramsar sites of wetlands of international importance are recognized in Lebanon:

• Ammiq Wetland: Ramsar Site No. 978 (16/4/1999)
• Raas Al-Chaqaa: Ramsar Site No. 979 (16/4/1999)
• Tyre Coast Nature Reserve: Ramsar Site No. 980 (16/4/1999), and
• Palm Islands Nature Reserve: Ramsar Site No. 1079 (3/8/2001)

Two sites are listed as “Specially Protected Areas of Mediterranean Importance” (SPAMI) by the SPA and Biodiversity Protocol:

• Tyre Coast Nature Reserve
• Palm Islands Nature Reserve

Fifteen sites are listed as Important Bird Areas (IBA) by Birdlife International, listed below: