Ministry launches reforestation project for 40 million trees

BEIRUT: The Agriculture Ministry Wednesday morning set the wheels in motion for a reforestation project to plant 40 million trees, sponsored by Prime Minister Tammam Salam.

The U.N.’ Food and Agriculture Organization representative in Lebanon, Maurice Saade, announced during a news conference at the Grand Serail that the FAO would offer the Agriculture Ministry technical help and funding to the tune of almost $300,000 starting early 2015.

The aid will be dedicated to forming a unit to coordinate the national reforestation program.

“The rapid deterioration in the forest wealth hurts the hearts of all Lebanese because losing the natural heritage is irreparable,” Saade said.

He described the reforestation initiative as a rarity in the Middle East and North Africa region, “where protecting the forest wealth is often absent from the list of decision-makers’ priorities.”

Environment Minister Mohammad Machnouk and Agriculture Minister Akram Chehayeb, who was representing Salam, attended the launch ceremony and gave speeches. Other ministers, U.N. officials and business figures were also present.

“Lebanon’s first capital is its green forests, but it’s deteriorating as a result of irresponsible human behaviors such as random logging, fires, overgrazing and urban expansion,” Machnouk said.

However, it wasn’t all bad news. “The disappearance of green spaces is occurring at a rate of approximately 0.4 percent annually, while reforestation is estimated at 0.83 percent annually,” he added.

And despite the fact that Lebanon’s emissions constitute just 0.07 percent of global emissions, the negative repercussions for the country will increase as climate change means water becomes more scarce, Machnouk said. “Reforestation aims to preserve the ecological diversity and natural environmental systems, protecting the soil from erosion and improving the earth’s ability to absorb rainwater,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the premier, Shehayeb said: “We are brought together by our desire to regain Lebanon’s greenery, a characteristic that is a part of the country’s identity and a longtime feature of the country of Cedars, which has lost a lot.”

“There are many dangers to our greenery,” he added. “Its first results are the decrease of green spaces to almost 13 percent of Lebanon’s area, and soil erosion.”

There have been many reforestation attempts in Lebanon, Shehayeb said. “We plant trees every year, and yet green spaces are decreasing.”