Lebanon - Safeguarding and restoring woodland resources

The forests of Lebanon serve as ‘water-towers’ that are crucial to the welfare of a large human population in the country. Safeguarding these forests is important for the preservation of aquifers and surface freshwater used, mostly for irrigation and drinking water. In 2001, the Lebanese Ministry of Environment initiated the National Reforestation Plan (NRF) to restore the country’s forest cover to at least 20% of the territory (from an historic low of 13%). During the period of 2002 to 2006, more than 580 hectares of forests were restored.  
 
In 2009, the Lebanese Ministry of Environment launched another phase of reforestation activities through the UNDP supported GEF funded Safeguarding and Restoring Lebanon’s Woodland Resources project. The long-term goal of this project is to complement on-the-ground investments undertaken through the National Reforestation Programme by strengthening the enabling environment and building capacity for sustainable land management as a contribution to greater ecosystem stability, enhanced food security and improved rural livelihoods.  
 
To date, the project has assisted the Ministry of Environment in the issuance of direct contracts to 48 municipalities to reforest degraded lands and provided them with technical and financial assistance resulting in the reforestation of 191 hectares across the country. This new approach has created short- and long-term forest-related job opportunities in local villages and raised awareness of the importance of forest conservation and sustainable use. The project has also supported trials of innovative reforestation techniques, such as minimization of water for irrigation and efficiency of use of younger seedlings. In the near future, this achievement might lead to the establishment of new visions and concepts, which could lead to easier, faster, cheaper and more efficient reforestation in coming years.