A new strategy for Southern Lebanon

The "Parks for Peace" concept aims at creating a protected nature reserve in a troubled region thus providing a focus for people of different cultures, religions and nationalities to come together to build a joint future in the spirit of sustainable development.
An unlooked-for consequence of times of war and military occupation in southern Lebanon was the development of a rich nature habitat there, worthy of preservation. This made the area a highly suitable location for the "Parks for Peace" model and so the Forum, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and the Euronatur Foundation have come together to bring such a park into being.

At a workshop in Germany in September 2000, Lebanese nature conservancy experts met scientists, landscape planners and communications experts at the invitation of two members of the Forum (Euronatur and Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt).  Chaired by Faisal Abu Izzedin (Biodiversity Conservation and Protected Areas Management, Beirut), they discussed how the concept could work and be sustained.

A region in the Rihan Mountain Area in Southern Lebanon was identified as a suitable location for implementing the project. Situated around 50 km south of Beirut and roughly 113 square kilometres in size, the region consists of eight villages and 15 farms.

After the workshop, a team began preparing a detailed project description so that the Forum could begin contacting possible sponsors and supporting institutions
 
 

Update:
Contact for further information:  Ulrich Witte  email: u.witte@dbu.de