Biodiversity and Forests

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