From the snow-capped peaks of Lebanon’s Shouf Biosphere Reserve to Morocco’s High Atlas valleys and Greece’s Lemnos Island, a new story titled “The Ancient Cedar and Our Common Food” celebrates the profound ties between people, nature, and culture across the Mediterranean. Produced under the Mediterranean Nature & Culture (AMNC) initiative, this episode highlights how traditional knowledge and sustainable practices unite communities around a shared vision: safeguarding biodiversity through food, craft, and collective heritage. At the heart of the film lies Lebanon’s iconic cedar — a symbol of history, identity, and resilience — standing tall in the…

he Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) has officially launched the geospatial map of Hima Anjar, marking a new milestone in its efforts to advance community-based conservation supported by modern geographic and environmental data. The newly released geospatial map of Hima Anjar offers a powerful visual testament to how science and community stewardship can converge to protect one of Lebanon’s most unique ecological treasures. Spanning 3.2 square kilometers, the map, prepared by SPNL’s GIS and Remote Sensing Division, delineates the boundaries of the Hima Anjar Wetlands…

Hima Kfarselwan stands as a living example of how people and nature can thrive together. As part of the “Homat Al Hima and Hima Trails” program, implemented by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) in partnership with the Municipality of Kfarselwan and the Jabal El Kanise Adventure Club, the site was recently visited by the SPNL team to document its inspiring story of stewardship and sustainability. Kfarselwan is not only a landscape of stunning alpine meadows and fresh mountain air—it is a community model built on respect for the land.

Between 23 September and 23 October 2025, the Joint Operations Team of the Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) carried out one of its most active field periods this year, with coordinated missions spanning from Akkar to Mount Lebanon and the Bekaa. These efforts, conducted in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Internal Security Forces, and local municipalities, reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to safeguarding its migratory birds and combating illegal hunting and wildlife trade. Defending the Flyways As the autumn migration reached its peak, the team maintained constant presence at critical flyways, including…

In the quiet hours of dawn, when most of Lebanon still sleeps, Husein Ali Zorkot is already awake — sketching, cataloging, and writing about the creatures that inhabit its mountains, valleys, and coasts. For over two decades, Zorkot has been building a monumental archive of Lebanon’s biodiversity through scientific art and field research. His October 2025 report marks another milestone in that long, tireless journey. Between September 24 and October 24, Husein worked full time — often 18 to 20 hours a day — on the Pictorial Guide for the Animals of Lebanon…

Strengthening Lebanon’s Nature Network: Field Highlights from September – October 2025 October 2025 unfolded as a month of remarkable coordination across Lebanon’s Hima network, reflecting SPNL’s integrated vision of conservation, community, and connectivity. From mountain ridges alive with raptor migration to wetland basins where data collection deepened ecological understanding, the Society’s field and technical teams advanced multiple projects under the BioConnect, DIMFE, SDC, Al Murunah, and related frameworks. Watching the Skies and Wetlands Field ornithologist Chadi Saad spent the season tracing the autumn migration from Anahita Raptor Viewpoint…

As summer loosened its grip on Lebanon’s mountains and wetlands, Chadi Saad kept daily watch over the migratory corridors that lace the country together: the Anahita raptor viewpoint on the Damascus Highway (Jabal Lubnan), the Hima Hammana ridges, the reedbeds of Ammiq Wetland, the shores of Lake Qaraoun, and the fields around Anjar, Mansura. Over seven weeks, he filed 24 eBird checklists, weaving a detailed picture of autumn passage that stretches from high-altitude thermals to mirror-still marshes. Raptor Highway: Anahita’s October drama The ridgeline above the Damascus Highway lived up to its reputation as a conveyor belt for migrating birds of prey.

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) has officially launched the geospatial map of Hima Kornayel, marking a new milestone in its efforts to advance community-based conservation supported by modern geographic and environmental data. Prepared by SPNL’s GIS and Remote Sensing Division, the map defines the official boundaries of the Hima and its municipal land parcels encompassing a total area of 850,000 m². Hima Kornayel  encompasses the publicly-owned lands of the Kornayel  Municipality, including its signature forest known as “Al-Qatin”, the Kornayel lake system and adjacent woodland and wetlands.

Based on a documented complaint submitted by sustainable hunters to the Anti-Poaching Unit (APU), the APU’s electronic tracking and investigation team prepared a detailed report for the Internal Security Forces (ISF) Operations Command, concerning a man identified as A.M., known publicly as “The Fierce Falcon.” The individual was found to be illegally hunting migratory and endangered bird species, conducting night hunting, and boasting about his acts on his TikTok account. Following the APU’s report and evidence submission, the Dinnieh Police Detachment of the Regional Gendarmerie Unit moved swiftly to arrest the suspect, confiscate his unlicensed hunting rifle, and file an official legal report, in coordination with the North Lebanon Public Prosecutor.

In a major coordinated operation, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), through its Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) jointly operated with MESHC and in partnership with the Committee Against Bird Slaughter (CABS), dismantled one of the largest illegal bird trapping sites ever recorded in Lebanon. The operation took place in Aabdeh, a coastal town in northern Lebanon, with the active participation of officers from the Lebanese Internal Security Forces. Across several lime orchards and agricultural plots, the joint team discovered and dismantled 55 mist-nets with a staggering total length of…

Al-Labweh, Northern Beqaa – As part of ongoing efforts to protect wildlife and enforce environmental law, the Anti-Poaching Unit, in coordination with Dr. Abbas Al-Dairani, Director of the Agricultural Department in Baalbek-Hermel Governorate, the "Shaat Forest and Hunting Center," and a patrol from the Internal Security Forces – Al-Labweh Station, conducted a field mission to remove violations related to the illegal trade of wild birds at two sites in the Al-Labweh area. The operation was carried out in response to a documented complaint submitted by an environmental activist. Violations were identified, and legal action was taken against the offenders in accordance with the law.

 The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) has officially launched the geospatial map of Hima Al-Abadiyeh, marking a new milestone in its efforts to advance community-based conservation supported by modern geographic and environmental data. Prepared by SPNL’s GIS and Remote Sensing Division, the map defines the official boundaries of the Hima and its municipal land parcels (Nos. 1721, 1731, 2233, 2248, and 2278), encompassing a total area of 1 km². The mapped area lies within the public lands of the Municipality of Al-Abadiyeh…

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) expresses grave concern over the renewed destruction and violence unfolding at the Amchit coastal site overlooking the Monk Seal Cave, a rare natural refuge for the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) — one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. Despite the Ministry of Environment’s formal suspension order on plot No. 345 and its request to prepare a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) under Decree 8633/2012, construction and excavation activities have unlawfully resumed. This defiance not only violates environmental law but also threatens one of the last known monk seal habitats in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Hima approach was spotlighted at the Mediterranean Stakeholder Forum on Environment and Climate Action, held in Cairo. The event was co-organised by the Water and Environment Support-Biodiversity and Climate Action (WES-BCA) in the Neighbourhood South region project and hosted by RAED. Raghida Haddad, Editor-in-Chief of SPNL’s Al Hima magazine, presented the revival of the traditional Arab system of community-led conservation known as Hima. She emphasized how this centuries-old practice demonstrates the power of traditional knowledge in fostering modern climate resilience. "Journalists have a unique role in telling hopeful, and impactful stories of Hima not merely as conservation projects, but as vibrant, living spaces where culture, nature, people, and sustainable policies intersect," Haddad said.

Assad Serhal: “A renewed mandate for unity, science, and hope for nature and people.” Beirut, 16 October 2025 — The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), BirdLife’s national partner, extends its heartfelt congratulations to Razan Al Mubarak on her re-election as President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at the 2025 World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi. In a statement, Assad Serhal, SPNL’s Director General and member of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, said: “Razan Al Mubarak’s renewed presidency is a powerful signal of trust and continuity within the IUCN family.

During the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) delegation met with Tim Badman, Head of the World Heritage Programme at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In a dedicated discussion with Raghida Haddad, Editor of Al Hima magazine, Mr. Badman elaborated on the requirements and procedures for the designation of IUCN/UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage Sites. He outlined the criteria for nomination, the evaluation mechanisms, and the collaborative process between IUCN, UNESCO, and national authorities to ensure the protection and sustainable management of sites of Outstanding Universal Value.

Under the Al Murunah and Al Murunah+ projects, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) reaffirmed its commitment to empowering local communities through targeted awareness and capacity-building sessions focused on sustainability and resilience. On 10 and 11 October 2025, the SPNL team conducted a series of interactive training sessions introducing participants to the core background, achievements, and upcoming steps of the Al Murunah project. A central theme of the sessions was the application of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) as practical and sustainable responses to Lebanon’s growing climate and water challenges…

Today at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, Manoswini Sarkar sat down with Assad Serhal, Director General of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) — BirdLife Partner in Lebanon 🇱🇧 — to discuss the power of community-based conservation and the growing success of the Hima Revival across the Middle East. 🕊️ In this inspiring exchange, Serhal shared SPNL’s vision of reconnecting people with nature through the ancient Hima approach, where local communities serve as the true custodians of the land. “The Hima belongs to everyone — it’s a living heritage of coexistence and respect for nature,” he said.

The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), in collaboration with the Municipality of Baysour and Baysour Hiking Group, organized a hiking activity in the Baysour Hima – Tallah Trail. The event brought together graduate students and professors from the Olayan School of Business (OSB) at the American University of Beirut (AUB), as part of their annual field activity entitled:“Hike for Olayan School of Business Graduate Students.” The activity aimed to introduce master’s students to the concept of the Hima, a community-based and sustainable environmental approach that connects local communities with nature conservation, while also enhancing environmental awareness and social responsibility among future business leaders.

Abu Dhabi, October 14, 2025 — The traditional Hima approach took center stage at the IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC), held in Abu Dhabi, where it was celebrated as a powerful, community-led model for sustainable resource management, conflict resolution, and biodiversity conservation. Practiced in t he Arab world for over 1,500 years and revitalized since 2004, Hima has evolved far beyond a historical practice. It now stands as a living, effective system of environmental governance, rooted in culture and led by communities. The first day featured a session titled "Linking Culture to Nature Using the Hima Approach,"

Interviewed by Raghida Haddad, Editor-in-Chief of Al Hima Magazine. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak is a global leader in conservation and climate action, serving as President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and spearheading efforts to integrate nature into global climate strategies. She was the founding director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, one of the world’s largest philanthropic organizations supporting direct species conservation, funding over 3,000 projects in nearly every country. As Managing Director of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), Al Mubarak has been a driving force in shaping the United Arab Emirates’ sustainability agenda, championing environmental policies, species conservation, and climate action across West Asia and globally.

As part of its mission to foster environmental awareness among younger generations, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), in collaboration with Bayssour Municipality, welcomed a large group of students from WellSpring Learning Community to Hima Bayssour – Darb El Talleh for a unique educational and environmental field visit. The visit aimed to introduce students to the Hima concept—a traditional community-based approach to the conservation of natural resources—and its vital role in protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable land use. Through their guided journey along the…

As part of Reef Initiative’s activities and in coordination with the Environmental Committee in Anjar and ABCL, a special event was held on October 11, 2025, to mark World Migratory Bird Day. The gathering combined environmental education, community engagement, and open dialogue. The event opened with a storytelling session led by Chadi Saad, a birdwatcher and the director of the migratory bird observation site in Hima Hammana, affiliated with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL). During the session, Saad presented insights into bird migration patterns, species commonly seen in Lebanon, and the ecological importance of migratory routes.

At a time when global multilateralism is struggling to drive the transformative change required for the conservation of nature, the need for rigorous legal guidance has never been greater. The recent advisory opinion on climate change by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) confirmed states’ legal obligations to protect the climate system and their liability for harm caused by their actions and omissions. The advisory opinion also affirmed science as the most reliable foundation for decision-making, a fact that elevates the work of experts gathered at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress 2025. 

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) hosted a landmark session titled “Hima for Peace: Community-Based Stewardship and Vertical Finance for Ecosystem Resilience in Regions” at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi. The event brought together ministers, environmental leaders, and international experts to explore how the ancient Hima tradition can be a model for sustainable development, biodiversity conservation, and peacebuilding in a rapidly changing world. The session featured H.E. Ayman Suleiman, Minister of Environment of Jordan; H.E. Nizar Hani, Lebanon’s Minister of Agriculture; H.E. Hany El Shaer…