Creating Greener Peace in Lebanon

Bill Corcoran, ANERA's President, plants a tree

Lebanon has long been celebrated as the land of milk and honey, a picturesque slice of heaven on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. Defined by its long coastline and quaint mountain villages in the interior, Lebanon draws visitors year after year to enjoy its natural beauty and rich history. In South Lebanon this scenic landscape has repeatedly been scarred by war and turmoil. The once dense pine forests and rolling hills of olive and fruit trees have become unwitting victims of the Middle East conflict.

During the war in 2006, hundreds of acres of forest were lost to fires and several thousand acres of agricultural land were littered with cluster bombs and unexploded ordnance. For the people of South Lebanon the devastation of homes, schools, and infrastructure was further compounded by the danger of these ordnances, keeping them from setting foot in their fields and forests. Fortunately, the UN has declared that the clearance of unexploded ordnances and mines will remain a priority. Areas around some villages were completely cleared by December 2007.

Addressing environmental damage is an important issue on the recovery agenda. But for many years environmental recovery has been a critical concern. Half of the area of Lebanon is unfit for agriculture. Excessive clearing, overgrazing, urban development, fires, and pests threaten Lebanese forests.

"Trees are part of our culture and daily life…many people in the village depend on agriculture and forestry to live," commented Mr. Nasser, a landowner and farmer in the village of Fardis.

ANERA, with its local partner, the Association for Forests, Development, and Conservation (AFDC), is working with local communities to help them protect and manage their environment. AFDC's Reforestation Program establishes and trains volunteer units in local communities to fight forest fires, maintain protected areas, run environmental education in the community and help with reforestation projects. "We help in digging the holes, and planting and irrigating the trees during summer, and then we take responsibility for keeping them alive and well," remarked volunteer Hadi Slika.

Working with schools is an important part of the program. Environment clubs, national contests to bring schools across the country together, and extra-curricular materials to help science teachers all educate the younger generation whose future is at stake.

ANERA first assisted AFDC by providing an excavator for land reclamation work in the Arqoub region. The excavator saves time and money, allowing workers to plant more than a hundred trees a day. Now, with support from ANERA and other donors, the AFDC is building a new nursery in the village of Mimes to produce about 70,000 saplings per year. One year's production will be enough to replant the 280 acres of forest lost in last summer's war in the cluster of villages around Fardis.

ANERA's vision is to bring the war-scarred hills of South Lebanon back to life, restoring their natural beauty for the next generation.