Project for the preparation of a Strategic Action Plan for the ...

SAP-BIO-Lebanon National Report Page 12 of 95
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Search of the available information and databases on national biodiversity as well as scientific
publications on coastal terrestrial and aquatic species were reviewed and consolidated for easier access
and use (please refer to list of tables and annexes).
3. Documents and information available in the country
An exhaustive literature review covering research undertaken on the Lebanese coastal and aquatic
environments has been compiled in Appendix I. Due to the absence of national database, the list might
not include all published material on coastal and aquatic biodiversity.
4. Relevant activities that have been implemented at the national level
After the civil war, the country of Lebanon was in dire need to address the ravages that befell its
environment. Within this context and with the initiatives undertaken by the MoE, the country was able to
secure several projects from international funding agencies in order to begin the remedy process and to
save what remains of the Lebanese natural environment. The tendency was to address, first and foremost,
issues related to pollution. In parallel, efforts were started in the field of biodiversity, and the collection
and indexing of organisms is being carried-out, albeit slowly and with some difficulty due to the absence
of taxonomists and the necessary resources. Nevertheless, several activities have taken place or are
ingoing, therefore increasing the knowledge base of the scientific community.
4.1 Biodiversity Enabling Activity (Phase I)
This project was executed in 1998 by the MoE with the support of UNDP/GEF. The main outcome of this
project is the National Biodiversity Startegy and Action Plan that was prepared in order to fulfill the
requirements of article 6 of the CBD.
4.2 Biodiversity Enabling Activity (Phase II)
The MoE benefited from an additional funding from the GEF to execute this project which aims at
assisting the MoE to further assess national capacity building needs and priorities, analyze institutional
and functional capabilities and determine the necessary mechanisms to protect national biodiversity
(MoE/UNDP/GEF, April 2002-February 2003).
4.3 Project for Strengthening the Permitting and Auditing System for Industries (February
2000 –May 2002, SPASI, EU/MOE)
Main outputs of this project include the development of decrees and regulations aimed at strengthening
the permitting and auditing system for industry as well as the formulation of appropriate standards.
The project has established National Standards for environmental quality for stack emissions and
wastewater (discharge to the sea, surface water, sewer network). These standards have been issued by
MOE (#8/1, 2001) and will be introduced on a trial basis before being submitted to become a decree.
4.4 Environmental Impact Assessment Unit (1997-2002, World Bank/MOE)
The role of this unit is to prepare executive decrees for assessing the environmental impacts of proposed
projects.
The unit has worked at three levels, namely legal, institutional and capacity building. At the legal level it
has prepared draft decrees that will be submitted to the council of Ministers for action. At the institutional
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Prepared By M. Nader & S. Talhouk June, 2002