Biodiversity and Forests

More documents

Recommendations

Info

170 Outside protected areas, Lebanon is currently participating in a regional project funded by GEF and implemented by UNDP: Mainstreaming Conservation of Migratory Soaring Birds into Key Productive Sectors along the Rift Valley/Red Sea flyway (June 2008 – December 2012). This flyway is the second most important flyway for migratory soaring birds (raptors, storks, pelicans and some ibis) in the world --over 1.5 million birds (37 species including 5 globally threatened species) use this corridor between their breeding grounds in Europe and West Asia and wintering areas in Africa each year. The overall goal of this project is to ensure that globally threatened and significant populations of soaring birds that migrate along this unique flyway are effectively maintained. To achieve this, the project is mainstreaming conservation management objectives and actions into the hunting, energy, agriculture, waste management and tourism sectors along the Rift Valley/Red Sea flyway, including Lebanon making this a safer route for soaring birds. 5.5.5 Wider Responses A number of other and wider responses also have positive implications for Lebanon’s biodiversity and forests. For example: • The ratification of Environment Law 444/2002, and the completion and endorsement of the National Land Use Master Plan (prepared in 2004 and enacted by the COM in 2009). • The preparation of the draft law regulating access to and benefit sharing of biological and genetic resources in Lebanon; the draft biosafety decree that was developed based on the National Biosafety Framework. • The publication of a manual “Integrating Biodiversity into SEA and EIA – A Tool for Decision Makers and Practitioners”. The manual was prepared by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) for the Ministry of Environment and as part of the “Strategic Environmental Assessment and Land Use Planning” project with grant funding from the European LIFE- Third Countries Programme. The manual identifies potential entry points for mainstreaming biodiversity in the EIA and SEA processes (MOE-SPNL, 2006). • The integration of environmental concepts and biodiversity conservation and sustainability into (1) the gathering, processing and marketing of globally significant Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) in Lebanon; (2) the new hunting State and Trends of the Lebanese Environment | 2010 law; (3) different levels of education and schools curriculum; (4) other legal and policy instruments such as the Agricultural Atlas (2004) and the recently enacted law on oil exploration. Biodiversity considerations have been indirectly linked to Climate Change impacts, combating desertification, Ramsar Sites and World Heritage Sites. • Agricultural development in certain sectors (such as increases in economic plant products, organic farming, poultry, and aquaculture products) has helped reduce pressures on natural exploitation, and thus protect biodiversity and aquatic communities. The preparation of the Strategy for Agricultural Development in Lebanon by MOA in 2004. 5.6 EMERGING ISSUES AND OUTLOOK 5.6.1 Conserving and Protecting Species It is necessary to improve and update the knowledge about species biodiversity and threat level. For example, a National Red List would help keep decision makers and managers informed about natural resources to act appropriately to conserve and maintain species. All recent species studies are either in the form of checklists limited to protected areas or specific studies conducted in some sites by single researchers. Lebanon has yet to develop its first Species Action Plan. Little legislation exists regarding the conservation of target species outside nature reserves and these legislations target only few wild species. In addition to enforcing existing legislation, there is a need to update the legislation within the framework of a new Species Policy. Such a policy would need to consider other target species as well as species interactions (the extent and importance of such interactions was not well understood when the legislation was passed). Furthermore, there is a need to develop sustainability criteria and standards for the use of natural resources, and to pay more attention to invasive species through identification, monitoring, and management. More efforts are needed for diversity assessment, seed distribution, valorization of ethno-botanical heritage and associated use of important wild plants. Another point that deserves more attention is the study of the ethno-pharmacological properties of local medicinal plants such as Capparis species (Chalak et al., 2011). Additionally, the characterization
and evaluation of plant genetic resources is mostly limited to morphological descriptors and agronomical traits. It has been applied so far to landraces and improved varieties of fruit trees, field crops and some vegetables. Molecular characterization has only been applied to a limited number of crops using European funds. Financial and technical support is needed to expand plant genetic resources characterization and evaluation by using advanced techniques and by strengthening skills and adopting adequate equipments. Only few breeding activities have been carried out in Lebanon. They are limited to wheat, barley, chickpea and lentil. Regarding fruit species, breeding activities are restricted to some clonal selection activities that have been recently conducted for stone fruits and grapevines. There is an urgent need to establish a national strategy for the breeding and improvement of the Lebanese plant genetic resources for target crops (Chalak et al., 2011). 5.6.2 Formulating a National Forest Policy and Strategy The National Reforestation Plan and National Strategy for Forest Fires should be integrated into a broader and much needed National Forest Policy and/or National Forest Strategy. This is particularly needed for sensitive forests (e.g., cedars, junipers) which could be affected by climate change in a topographical corridor determined by bioclimatic zones, and for communal forests near villages and towns. The strategy would need to address the scattered efforts at reforestation and land restoration, and strengthen their technical aspects. It would also provide management tools and incentives to prevent forest fragmentation, ensure habitat conservation and conserve environmental services. In the absence of strategies and action plans that encourage citizens and decisionmakers to become better stewards of their landscape, today’s piecemeal efforts to conserve the nation’s forests and their biodiversity will not achieve sustainable results. Equally important, the decade long contention between the ministries of Environment and Agriculture over their respective forest and protected area mandates must be resolved. Their overlapping responsibilities must be streamlined. Each ministry alone cannot protect and develop forest resources. Their combined resources and approaches will help ensure a conservation ethic and reforestation program that is compatible with rural development needs. 5.6.3 Challenges and Opportunities for Sustaining Lebanon’s Protected Areas With the exception of nature reserves, most of which have well established management plans, all other protected areas need management and monitoring. The number of protected areas and their coverage can be misleading indicators of conservation (especially for marine areas), as their establishment is not necessarily followed by effective management and enforcement of regulations (Mora et al. 2006, Rodrigues et al. 2004). Stated differently, measuring the number and extent of protected areas only provides a uni-dimensional indicator of Lebanon’s (political) commitment to biodiversity conservation. There is a growing need therefore to also develop indicators on the effectiveness of conservation activities, including PA management. Such indicators will generate data that may be included in the World Database of Protected Areas, and help countries assess progress towards meeting global biodiversity targets. The GOL needs to show greater commitment on several PA fronts. It should approve the draft Framework Law for Nature Reserves without further delay. This law (1) defines the management objectives of nature reserves, (2) regulates the establishment of nature reserves on private lands, (3) outlines the management structure of nature reserves and formally recognizes APACs, (4) addresses financing mechanisms, (5) allows APACs to charge admission fees and impose fines in case of violations, and (6) uses zoning to encourage sustainable use of natural resources inside the nature reserve. Building on this draft Framework Law, the COM must endorse without delay the draft PA Category System which defines PA categories and scientific criteria and guidelines for PA designation. MOE has also prepared a draft decree on the roles and responsibilities of PA management staff. Finally, the GOL should also formally declare Lebanon’s first national park (the Akkar-Hermel-Dinnieh intersection), already identified in the National Land Use Master Plan which was enacted by the Council of Ministers in 2009. 5.6.4 Upscaling Ecotourism and Other Forms of Low Impact Recreation Nature and culture tourism are important activities and sources of income to villages and towns near protected areas and all along the Lebanon Mountain Trail (Box 5.7). Because this sector is growing and gaining recognition among municipalities and tour operators, it is important to develop environmental and Chapter 5: Biodiversity and Forests 171
Page 1 and 2: Biodiversity and Forests Lead Autho
Page 3 and 4: ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS ABS Access
Page 5 and 6: LIST OF FIGURES Figure 5.1 Distribu
Page 7 and 8: Lebanon’s geographic location, it
Page 9 and 10: 5.1.3 Forests Based on the FAO Fore
Page 11 and 12: 5.1.3.4 Evergreen Cypress Evergreen
Page 13 and 14: Since the preparation of the Biodiv
Page 15 and 16: Figure 5.6. Summary of root causes
Page 17 and 18: forests harbor several endemic, thr
Page 19 and 20: trend may continue for some years a
Page 21 and 22: (CWR) allows species to adapt to ch
Page 23 and 24: MOA’s Directorate of Rural Develo
Page 25 and 26: Table 5.5 Detailed List of Nature R
Page 27 and 28: Box 5.3 The Higher Council for Hunt
Page 29 and 30: • Following the devastating fires
Page 31: For inland freshwater protection fr
Page 35 and 36: REFERENCES AECID 2009 Environmental
Page 37 and 38: Rodrigues ASL et al. 2004 Rodrigues
Page 39: لبج - صاجنلا درج ةقط

Biodiversity and Forests

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?