Lebanon forest project: details of work

Volunteer fire-fighters, shepherds, and beekeepers

The Mount Lebanon region of Lebanon is a key area for conservation efforts to save Mediterranean forests, and the Lebanese cedar (Cedrus libani) in particular. WWF has identified the Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve, in the northern part of Mount Lebanon, as a biodiversity hotspot in the Mediterranean.

WWF's Mediterranean Programme has worked with and supported Lebanese NGO AFDC (Association for Forest Development and Conservation) since 1996 to counter some of the threats to the Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve and Mount Lebanon forests in general, such as fires, overgrazing, and uncontrolled tourism. The most recent support came through an EU-funded SMAP project from 2000–2003.

The work of AFDC focuses on:

• Training and equipping volunteer fire-fighters
• Establishing roles and responsibilities for fire-fighting groups
• Working with farmers to prevent fires
• Working with shepherds to protect cedar forests
• Working with beekeepers to develop sustainable forestry practises
• Ecotourism
• Replanting deforested areas
• Advocacy work at the local and national government level
• Increasing public awareness

Through these different approaches, AFDC, WWF, and other partners have achieved a number of successes. Not only are fires being extinguished more quickly by trained volunteer fire-fighters and better coordination between different fire-fighting groups, but farmers are using better practises to stop fires getting out of control in the first place.

In addition, some 250,000 trees have been planted throughout the country, and shepherds, beekeepers, and other locals are developing sustainable practises that both protect forests and provide a source of income.

In addition to supporting AFDC projects, WWF has helped with capacity building of AFDC staff on forest resources management, environmental education, management of protected areas, and many other environmental issues; and helped seek new projects for rural development.

Volunteer fire-fighting brigades
For the past ten years, AFDC has been training villagers to spot fires, mobilize themselves, and extinguish fires. The volunteers - many of whom join when they are as young as 13 - are trained by experts from AFDC and the civil defence, and work as village units. The units usually tackle fires alone, but if the blaze is too big, then they call in the civil defence for help. WWF helped supply the volunteers with better equipment and appropriate clothing, such as boots, uniforms, and face protectors.

There are currently some 400 volunteers, both male and female, in nine village units across Lebanon. They work hard - each volunteer fights up to 20 fires each year, and it can take anything from a few hours to a few days to put out the flames. It's also dangerous - as well as the danger from the fire, there's also the threat of landmines, which still litter the forests. The volunteers also work on other AFDC activities, such as planting trees and ecotourism.

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Clear fire-fighting responsibilities
When AFDC first started in 1993, fire fighting in Lebanon was being hampered not only by insufficient manpower, but also by a lack of coordination between fire-fighters, civil defence, and government ministries. To tackle this, AFDC developed a clear system of roles and responsibilities for the different groups involved in extinguishing forest fires.

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Preventing fires from getting out of control
Fighting fires undoubtedly helps save forests, but it is not a long-term solution - it would be much better if there were no fires to begin with. AFDC is teaching farmers better fire management practises, such as burning in winter or spring, when vegetation is green and moist, rather than in autumn, when it's drier. 

The volunteers also work to prevent fires from getting out of control by creating fire breaks and clearing undergrowth where necessary. The young volunteer fire-fighters are themselves having a preventative effect - many farmers have stopped burning their land as they don't want to put their children in danger if the fire gets out of control.

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Sheep and goats: protectors of cedar
Domestic sheep and goats keep dry plants under control by grazing, which can reduce the risk of fire. But the animals will also eat young tree seedlings, and can hamper the natural regeneration of forests.

AFDC is working in Mount Lebanon to prevent overgrazing in sensitive areas. With support from WWF, a grazing plan based on scientific data was designed around the Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve, in collaboration with local shepherds and the Al-Shouf Cedar Society, which manages the reserve. This is helping to maintain a fire break around the reserve's cedar groves, and also helping their natural regeneration.

Under the plan, the shepherds received training in environmentally friendly livestock management and dairy production. Alternative sources of water were also established to reduce grazing pressure around areas where water is currently available. Future work includes plans to establish a cooperative to help the shepherds market their products, both to surrounding villages and to tourists visiting the Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve.

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Working with beekeepers
Beekeepers have a strong interest in maintaining healthy populations of flowering plants in order to produce honey, and so are a valuable ally for forests. In order to promote non-timber forest products, AFDC is working with the beekeepers' cooperative AASAL to help improve their livelihoods through improved honey production, storage, and marketing. WWF helped support this project.

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Ecotourism
Tourism can be an important source of income for local communities. By giving natural areas such as forests a value, tourism can also help with their protection. However, unregulated tourism can also be extremely damanging to fragile areas.

To promote responsible tourism in Mount Lebanon, AFDC is working with the Al-Shouf Cedar Society to develop ecotourism facilities within and around the Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve. AFDC also runs ecotourism activities from its training centre in Ramlieh village. This centre, called the Mediterranean Forest Development and Conservation Center of Lebanon (MFDCL), was the first environmental training center in the Middle East and was funded by the Spanish Aid Agency through WWF. WWF also helped AFDC to identify specific objectives for the training center.

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Planting trees
Reforestation was one of AFDC's first activities, and over the past decade, some 250,000 trees have been planted throughout the country. Native tree species such as pine, cyprus, oak, olive, and cedar are grown at the AFDC nursery in Ramlieh village, as well as local aromatic and medicinal plants such as rosemary, lavender, thyme. The seedlings are distributed to local municipalities, NGOs, farmers, and youth clubs as well as professional reforestation campaigns for planting. AFDC staff and volunteers also help with the planting.

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Advocacy
AFDC is working with local governments and the national government to ensure that Lebanon has better policies to protect forests and prevent fires.

Increasing public awareness
Increasing public awareness is an important component of forest conservation. AFDC carries out various educational activities, including running environmental clubs and programmes at schools and universities, and providing training to local communities, local authorities, national organizations, and the business sector.