Located on the eastern Mediterranean, Lebanon is a biodiversity hotspot with diverse endemic plant species and unique geology, supporting a wide range of wildlife. Despite covering just 0.007% of global land area, Lebanon hosts 1.11% of the world's plant species and 2.63% of reptiles, birds, and mammals.

This exceptional natural wealth is increasingly under pressure from urbanization, deforestation, habitat fragmentation, pollution, climate change and the overexploitation of natural resources. In response, Lebanon has committed to global environmental frameworks including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Barcelona Convention.

UNDP Lebanon supports the Government of Lebanon in translating these commitments into action, from policy and governance to implementation on the ground. This includes strengthening environmental governance, institutional capacities, policy frameworks and planning tools, while promoting innovative approaches to the sustainable management of protected areas, forests, rangelands, watersheds and agricultural landscapes. Through Nature-based Solutions such as watershed restoration, terrace rehabilitation, sustainable land management and nature-based tourism, UNDP demonstrates how conserving and restoring ecosystems can strengthen climate resilience, support livelihoods and generate inclusive benefits for local communities.

In partnership with the Ministry of Environment, UNDP is also supporting the implementation and alignment of Lebanon’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, as well as the preparation of Lebanon’s Seventh National Report to the CBD. Together, these efforts contribute to global ambitions to conserve 30% of land and marine areas and restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030.