Recommendations:  What you can do   (by Rania Masri)

Above all else, what is needed is a firm understanding of the connections
and relations in the ecosystem.  Nothing is completely separate from
anything else.  On a more concrete level, there are four recommendations
for managing and protecting the cedars in Lebanon, recommendations to
which each person can contribute (Table 4). 

	Support Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
	Support the United Nations proposal
	Support or conduct  research
	Extend awareness, education, and outreach activities

	Table 4:  Recommendations


Support NGOs

There are 120 environmental associations in Lebanon.  Most of these
organizations are local and regional, with an active minority acting
nationally.  Among the numerous national NGOs working towards
environmental protection, three stand out:  The Green Line, the Society
for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon, and The René Moawad Foundation. 

The Green Line

The Green Line is a non-political, national association independent of any
government, group, or individual.  It embraces the principle of
environmentally sound development.  It is Lebanon'’s Greenpeace based upon
scientific foundations.  Green Line was established in 1991 with
membership primarily from the American University of Beirut (students,
professors, and alumni). 

Green Line brings together all those who are concerned with preserving the
past, conserving the present, and giving the future a better chance. The
objectives of the organization are to: 1) expose environmental threats; 2)
popularize enviro nmental awareness; and 3) contribute towards a
scientific framework for a sustainable environmental management policy. 
All projects are implemented through the volunteer work of its members. 

Green Line is the founder and coordinator of the Reforestat ion Network,
an umbrella organization that unites those organizations throughout
Lebanon that are involved in reforestation projects.  For more
information, or to become a part of the Green Line, write to The Green
Line, c/o Dr. Shady Hamadeh, American Un iversity of Beirut, P.O. Box
11-0236, Lebanon, or to the New York office at AUB New York Office, 850
Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022.

Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL)

The SPNL was established in 1985 with the aims of stopping the
deterioration of the environment in Lebanon.  Among SPNL’s
manyaccomplishments are the publication of three books in Arabic on the
birds and mammals of Lebanon, four documentaries and fifteen TV spots on
the environment.  In addition, SPNL and the Leban ese government have
requested the World Heritage Committee (WHC) of UNESCO to nominate the
main cedar forests of Lebanon as historic sites of international
importance.  A visit to Lebanon by Mr. Jim Thorsell of WHC was sponsored
by SPNL in April 1993, but the Ministry of the Environment has yet to
bring this idea into actuality. 

SPNL is currently conducting a campaign to plant new cedar trees.  To this
end, SPNL welcomes financial contributions for planting cedar trees in
various areas where Cedrus liba ni already occur in Lebanon.  SPNL will
plant one cedar tree in your name for a contribution of $30.  Address:
SPNL, PO Box 11-5665, Beirut, Lebanon.


The René Moawad Foundation(RMF)

The René Moawad Foundation was established in 1990 as a non profit
humanitarian organization.  It is headed by Mrs. Nayla Moawad, the wife of
the late President and a member of the Lebanese Parliament.  The goal of
the Foundation is, in their own words, to consolidate peace and national
unity in Lebanon by promoting libera l values and by contributing to
social progress, economic development, cultural life and the protection of
the environment. 

With regards to the environment, and forests in particular, the Foundation
has planted the largest nursery in Lebanon.  Ten thousand cedar trees were
planted in 1994, and their growth was aided through effective irrigation
and preventive systems against heat stress.  In addition, the Foundation
is creating a network of all the 120 environmental protection associations
existing in Lebanon in order to achieve effective cooperation and
coordination.  For further information or to join the Foundation, write to
the René Moawad Foundation at 1730 K Street N.W., Suite 1206, Washington,
D.C.  20006, call at 202-466-3383, or fax at 202-466 -3382. 


Support the United Nations “Protected Areas for Sustainable Development”
Proposal

The creation of protected areas in Lebanon is a necessary step towards the
protection of the Lebanese natural resources and the Lebanese natural
heritage. The United Nations proposal is an excellent means towards this 
end.  In addition, the UN will the project with 3 million US dollars.

In its own words:
	 “The project will put into place an effectively managed system of
	protected areas to safeguard endemic and endan gered species of
	flora and fauna, conserve their habitats and incorporate
	biodiversity conservation as an integral part of sustainable human
	development.  The project will test a specific model of three
	demonstration parks where the Ministry of Environment, local NGO’s, and
	in-country scientific institutions will cooperate and coordinate their
	activities to promote both the long term ecological and the short term
	economic objectives of wildlife conservation.  It will also reach
	out to the public and decision makers with documentary films and
	TV spots, and test the hypothesis concerning the possibility of
	promoting national reconciliation by bringing people and
	institutions together for the conservation of nature. 

The proposal recommends three areas in Lebanon to become protected:  Edhen
Forest, Jabal el-Barouk, and Palm Islands.  Ehden Forest, also known as
Horsh Ehden, is a floristically diverse forest of Cedrus, Abies, and
Quercus.  It was declared a forest reserve in 1992 by the Lebanese
government, yet protective measures are unenforced.  Ehden Forest is home
to numerous endemic plants, and to globally and regionally threatened bird
species.  Jabal el-Barouk, as has been previously described, is comprised
of three adjacent stands of Cedrus.  In addition, it is one of the few
remaining localities where large mammals can be found, and where the Ibex
and the Mountain Gazelle can be reintroduced.  The Palm Islands are
comprised of three flat, rocky islands 13 kilometers offshore and
north-wes t of Tripoli.  It is a key area for the migration of waterbirds
and passerine migrants, and home to numerous nationally endangered
species.  The Palm Islands were declared a marine reserve in 1992, yet
here too the protective measures are not enforced.  Quite the contrary,
hunting persists to this day. 

In May 1995, the Protected Areas for Sustainable Development proposal was
accepted by the UN.  The Ministry of the Environment in Lebanon still has
to make a decision and take the necessary action to make this project
reality. 

Support or conduct research

Lebanon is in dire need of environmental information, data, and basic
research.  All sectors of the environment are in need of research -- be it
research in air pollution, water pollution, soil erosion, or plant
pathology.  All these factors, and numerous others, affect the state of
the forests in Lebanon, and thus affect the Cedrus libani in Lebanon. 

Research should be conducted on the identification of the possible fungal
disease affecting the cedars in Arz el-Barouk, Jabal el-Barouk. What
environmental stress are the cedars withstanding?  Is it a fungus
infection, or are the symptoms physiological?  If it is a fungus
infection, is the fungus a primary or secondary pathogen?  In other words,
did the fungus arise because the trees were weakened by environmental
predisposing factors such as drought and malnutrition possibly increased
by the soil erosion?  What are the causes of the fungus infection, and how
could it be treated and managed, containedso that it will not spread to
the cedars in Arz Ain Zhalta and in Arz Maasser el-Chouf?  These
questions, and many more, would need to be answered if the possible fungus
infection is to be managed. 

However, treating and managing the cedars in Arz el-Barouk is not
sufficient if the goal is -- as it should be -- the long-term protection
and management of the Cedar of Lebanon.  It is more critical to regenerate
and reforest the cedars than it is to attempt to heal the cedars.  

Cedar forests in Lebanon have been reduced to approximately 2% of their
former area.  The best means to protect the cedars are to increase the
area in which they exist, to reforest suitable regions with cedar. 
Although this may seem to be a simple process, it is not.  Research needs
to be conducted on the optimal means by which to reforest the mountains
with Cedrus libani.  Specifically, research is needed to discover the
optimal methods to meet each of the following objectives, with regards to
Cedrus libani:  seed storage, seed germination, nursery practices, and
plantation treatments.  Numerous questions need to be resolved in each
category.  Such research would benefit all environmental associations
working towards the restoration of the cedar, since it would provide a
solid scientific foundation upon which work would be conducted.

Support for research is essential if research is to take place.  In
addition, qualified personnel willing to research environmental issues in
Lebanon are needed, and would be benefiting future generations as they
enter into exciting scientific grounds. 


Extend awareness, education, and outreach activities

In addition to supporting environmental associations, working to implement
the United Nations proposal, and supporting scientific research, it is
fundamental to increase awareness of environmental issues in Lebanon, both
within Lebanon and internationally.  Outreach activities, such as this
seminar hosted by the International Relief Fund, contribute to the spread
of information, and thus empower the efforts to protect the Lebanese
natural heritage.  The key is education.  Each person concerned about the
Lebanese environment should first be informed, then work to inform others
of the tragic situation in Lebanon.  Education, on an official scale, sh
ould be integrated in the schools in Lebanon, from kindergarten to college
levels.  An agreement was signed in 1994 between Lebanon’s Education and
Environmental ministries to include courses on ecological problems in
school curricula starting in the academic year of 1995.  Strengthening of
such efforts is fundamental to the protection of the
environment.


Conclusion

A viable Cedrus libani population is needed to best protect the cedars. 
Clearly, the state of the cedars in particular, and the woods in
particular, is dangerous and detrimental to the health of the environment
in Lebanon, as well as injurious to the natural history and natural
culture of this magnificent country.  If intense reforestation does not
occur, the natural foundation of Lebanon will suffer extensively.

It is wise to remember that numerous civilizations, such as the Sumerian
civilization, have been weakened not by military means, but through the
effects of deforestation on their society. 


Primary References

Masri,Rania.  (1995) Change in the Cedar Forest of Ain Zhalta, Jabal
el-Barouk, Lebanon, 1965-1994.  Duke University.

National Report on the Environment and Development in Lebanon.  (1991)
Ministry of State for the Environment.  Republic of Lebanon.

Perlin, John.  (1991) A Forest Journey:  Role of Wood in the Development
of Civilization. Harvard University Press.

Tohmé, Georges and Henriette.  (1985) Ecology of Lebanon:  Facts and
Examples.  Lebanese University.  Natural Science Section 17.  [published
in Arabic as: ÃíßæáæÌíÉ áÈäÇä: æÞÇÆÚ æÔæÇåÏand in French as: Ecologie du
Liban:  Faits et exemples.]

United Nations Development Program.  (1994) Protected Areas for
Sustainable Development.


-------------------------
Rania Masri
Ph.D. student in Forestry, North Carolina State University. 
rmasri@ncsu.edu