Duration: 45 months (February 2022- October 2025)
The BIOCONNECT project is a landmark initiative aimed at ensuring effective management and governance of Sites of Ecological Importance, with a particular focus on Mount Hermon Natural Reserve (MHNR). Funded by the European Union and led by the Al Shouf Cedar Society, this project brings together multiple environmental partners, including the Association for the Development of Rural Capacities (ADR), the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), and the Association for Community and Environment (ACE).
Spanning 45 months (February 1, 2022 – October 31, 2025), the project takes a multi-faceted approach to conservation, focusing on strengthening governance, enhancing biodiversity monitoring, restoring degraded landscapes, and improving connectivity between conservation areas, with a major emphasis on Mount Hermon.
Objectives: Safeguarding Mount Hermon’s Natural Heritage
BIOCONNECT is structured around two overarching objectives:
- Enhancing the management and governance of Mount Hermon and other ecologically significant sites.
- Creating new conservation areas and OECMs to expand biodiversity protection and ensure long-term ecological sustainability.
Mount Hermon: A Priority for Restoration and Conservation
As one of Lebanon’s most ecologically significant regions, Mount Hermon Natural Reserve is at the heart of BIOCONNECT’s conservation efforts. The reserve faces land degradation, biodiversity loss, and increasing pressures from human activities, making it a priority for restoration, sustainable management, and policy enforcement.
Key Activities in Mount Hermon
1. Biodiversity Monitoring and Sustainable Site Management
- Establishing a biodiversity monitoring scheme in MHNR.
- Training farmers and local communities on biodiversity monitoring and citizen science.
- Conducting a comprehensive biodiversity inventory of MHNR to assess its ecological health.
- Evaluating the impact of livestock management on biodiversity, particularly wild edible plants.
- Developing and implementing a management plan for MHNR, with input from local stakeholders.
2. Ecosystem Restoration and Addressing Environmental Pressures
- Restoring 20 hectares of abandoned or overexploited agricultural land within MHNR.
- Cultivating and enhancing wild endangered edible species to support biodiversity recovery.
- Implementing sustainable forest management across 10 hectares, including thinning, pruning, fire break creation, and compost production from biomass.
- Training women, youth, and farmers on best practices in forest and land management to ensure long-term sustainability.
- Launching a targeted environmental awareness campaign to engage and educate local communities on conservation issues.
3. Strengthening Site Regulation and Governance
- Establishing a dedicated management body for MHNR to oversee conservation activities.
- Recruiting, equipping, and training essential management personnel to ensure effective governance.
- Enhancing enforcement of conservation regulations to prevent illegal activities and habitat destruction.
Expanding Conservation Beyond Mount Hermon
While MHNR is a key focal point, BIOCONNECT also seeks to identify and assess new protected areas and OECMs to ensure broader landscape connectivity.
Key actions include:
- Surveying potential new protected areas based on ecological importance.
- Identifying Important Plant Areas in unprotected sites.
- Developing sound management guidelines for new conservation areas.
- Connecting MHNR with other existing protected areas to support ecosystem continuity and wildlife corridors.
Expected Outcomes for Mount Hermon and Beyond
BIOCONNECT is set to transform conservation efforts in Lebanon, particularly in Mount Hermon, by delivering the following results:
- Restoration of 20 hectares of agricultural land and 10 hectares of sustainably managed forest in MHNR.
- Recognition of 4 new protected areas/OECMs, expanding conservation landscapes.
- Designation of Lebanon’s first geopark, reinforcing ecological and cultural conservation.
- Development of 6 new management plans for key conservation sites, including MHNR.
- Creation of 11 biodiversity monitoring schemes to track ecological changes.
- Engagement of 37 municipalities in conservation efforts.
- Capacity building for 2,900 individuals, including local community members, stakeholders, and conservation practitioners.
- Improved livelihoods for rural communities through sustainable land-use practices.
- Production of scientific publications, technical reports, regulations, factsheets, and training materials to support conservation efforts.
- Issuance of a new decree on OECMs, strengthening policy frameworks for biodiversity protection.
A Collaborative Approach for Mount Hermon’s Protection
To maximize impact, the project is structured into four thematic working groups (WGs), each dedicated to a key aspect of conservation in MHNR:
- Monitoring & Evaluation: Developing effective biodiversity monitoring protocols and engaging local communities in citizen science.
- Site Management: Strengthening protected area governance, improving site management strategies, and enforcing conservation regulations.
- Landscape Connectivity: Identifying new conservation sites and linking them to Mount Hermon and surrounding areas to enhance ecosystem health.
- Communication: Raising awareness, coordinating events, and engaging local stakeholders in conservation activities.
Mount Hermon at the Heart of Lebanon’s Conservation Future
As one of the most ecologically diverse and climate-sensitive areas in Lebanon, Mount Hermon Natural Reserve stands to benefit significantly from the BIOCONNECT project. By combining scientific conservation methods, local community participation, and policy development, this initiative ensures that Mount Hermon remains a thriving ecosystem that supports both biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods.
With the support of the European Union and dedicated environmental organizations, BIOCONNECT is paving the way for a sustainable conservation model that can be replicated across Lebanon and beyond. Through targeted restoration, enhanced governance, and active community involvement, Mount Hermon is set to become a beacon of biodiversity conservation and ecological resilience in the region.
