Bio-diversity

I. BACKGROUNG AND OBJECTIVES Al Waara forest was a native natural Oak forest in Rmaish area Southern Lebanon. In 1973 the forest was completely destroyed due to forest fires. Since then several attempts were made to reforest this area but they all ended up by fires that burnt these trees. Last reforestation attempts were done in 2004 and 2005 by Ministry of Environment planting around 150 dunums but several fires took place in this area that burnt the planted trees. The project aims at integrating the local community of Rmaish in protecting AL Waara forest especially from forest fire through increasing the awareness level on the importance of the forest for the local people. Also, interested people will be trained on controlling forest fires and equipped with necessary tools to fight fires in coordination with local authorities in the area, both governmental and non governmental. II. ACTIVITIES - Conduct awareness campaign with NGOs and schools on the importance of the Waara forest. - Conduct training on forest fire control to volunteers from the area in coordination with the Civil Defense. - Irrigation and weeding of the Waara forest. - Equipping the volunteers with fire fighting equipments. - Establishments of three rooms for storing fire fighting tools in the area. - Provision of water outlets for fire fighting vehicles in the area.

Lebanon