Bio-diversity

I. BACKGROUND The environmental associations in Cedars region Bsharri, have been working for 20 years and till nowadays on protecting the environment, through protecting the biodiversity in the region. This work started with the protection of the old Cedars forest, the God Cedars Forest, which is the oldest and the older forest in the World. Later on, environmental associations expanded their work in order to encompass neighboring areas. The Committee of the Cedars Forest Friends is an environmental committee which was established on July 1986. The Committee s main objective is to protect and develop the Cedar Forest. Major activities of the committee consist of stopping damages caused by human beings and planting Cedar trees and seedlings. The committee won several local, international, humanitarian, and environmental medals for its extensive and continuous work. It collaborated with institutions/associations from Japan, England, France, and Australia, in order to make the forest survive after it was facing extinction in 1985. Major achievements are: 1. Cleaning-up of the Forest from dead woods 2. Protection of the Forest from diseases 3. Reaching the capacity of having 25000 seedlings of Lebanese Cedars per year due to the new techniques used in the Committee s nursery. The Committee has gained over the years adequate experience in the domain of collecting, stocking and curing seeds and in the domain of seedlings and plants. 4. The Committee undertook a study on the the cedars reserve -Kadisha 5. Reforestation of more than 12000 cedars trees and works continuously on its protection and development, this accumulates to only 15% of the total planned project. Also, other projects were done including: establishment of internal agricultural roads, fence, studies on the soil, herbal coverage and the weather in the country. 6. The Committee elaborated a plan for 20 years divided into 4 phases. II. AIMS OF THE PROJECT The aim of the Project is mainly to provide a biological balance in the area surrounding the God Cedars Forest, as well as minimizing soil erosion. The aim of the Project is to provide the necessary need of water (7000 m3/year) through the establishment of a water catchments pond in order to irrigate more than 120 000 seedlings of Cedars, Juniperus, Oack, etc. This is crucial in order to succeed the reforestation operation especially during the first three years of the seedling life. The area of the region is 15600 Hectares, where 8000 hectares are non cultivated causing a lot of soil destruction and erosion during the spring, in addition to over-grazing causing a lot of damage to the herbal coverage resulting in a non ecological balance that influences negatively the weather in the area. III. RELATION OF THE PROJECT WITH GEF OBJECTIVES The establishment of a water catchments pond is directly related to GEF objectives. It provides the needed water for the irrigation and growth of the seedlings and the establishment of the Cedar forest thus decreasing the soil erosion. Also, the presence of the forest provides protection to the herbal coverage through protection from grazing and other forms of aggressions. And, as a result, we will be encouraging the sustainable agriculture. IV. PROJECT OBJECTIVES 1. To reduce the problem of the drought during the summer and spring seasons and irrigate the seedlings of Cedar, juniper and oak, that were and will be planted in Jabal Al- Makmel in a 400 hectares forest area. 2. To provide big chances of success for the seedlings to grow into trees and establish a real forest and thus: Avoid soil erosion. Improve water holding capacity in the ground. Stop the desertion phenomena in Jabal Al Makmel replacing it with herbal coverage that makes the soil roof a place to plant seedlings, new and natural flowers. Change the weather of the highest region in the Middle East ( Al Korne Al sawda 3000m). Extend the area of walking on the snow during the winter and early spring. 3. To change the area surrounding the forests from 7000 hectares of desert, to an area of forest able to stop eclipses, soil erosion, and then it could be a model that could be practiced in all el Makmel Bsharre- area. 4. To make use of water wasted on soil roof, without being used inside the soil. 5. To increase Lebanon s tourist capacity especially eco-tourism (The forest is the most important tourist forest in Lebanon) 6. The operation of protection over 400 hectares in Jabal El Makmel from erosion and grazing through the artificial reforestation can lead to natural regeneration of a big quantity of trees and rare and endemic herbs , where some are : Iris Cedretti , trees of Juniperus excelsa , Acer tauricolum . 7. To decrease the percentage of dry areas in the Lebanese mountains. This Project is in line with the plan of planting trees first established by the FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture. V. ACTIVITIES 1. The Friends of Cedars committee started, one year ago, collecting information concerning the weather and the quantity of rain that will be used in the project, the soil nature and its convenience with such projects. We also did an experimental water reservoir on very small basis to experience the quality of the soil and the result was extremely positive. 2. Explain the project for the parties concerned (this activity has already been achieved) : The environmental committees (committee of the environment protection, committee of the cedar

Lebanon