On the occasion of the National Day of Nature Reserves, caretaker Environment Minister Nasser Yassin announced that “nature reserves will open their doors free of charge on Sunday, March 10, 2024 for nature lovers, students, clubs, associations and individuals wishing to discover Lebanon’s nature.”
The reserves ready to welcome visitors at this time of the year are the Shouf Cedar Reserve, Tannourine Cedar Reserve, Horsh Ehden Reserve, Bentael Nature Reserve, Chnaniir Nature Reserve, Tyre Coast Nature Reserve, Yammouneh Nature Reserve and Jabal Moussa Nature Reserve.
Nature reserves are limited, regulated territories, whereas biosphere reserves are areas recognized by UNESCO as a region reconciling biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
The Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the reserves’ committees, has drawn up a list of activities and events to be organized by the various reserves to celebrate the day, which will take place throughout the week: www.moe.gov.lb.
The Ministry said it is highlighting the importance of ecological corridors and nature trails this year, such as the vital social corridor stretching from the North to the Shouf and the ecological corridor launched last year to link the Shouf Cedar Reserve, the Bekaa plain, Rashaya and the Mount Hermon reserve. Yassin underlined the importance of these reserves in fostering links between ecosystems and the local communities living nearby, in order to ensure their mutual sustainability and development.
