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One-year program to produce strategy to fight deforestation
By Enora Castagne – The Daily Star
BEIRUT: The first National Forest Program was launched Thursday, by the agriculture minister in cooperation with the German Development Cooperation agency (GIZ) in order to tackle the urgent issue of deforestation.
Over the course of one year, workshops will gather experts, non-governmental organizations, ministries and municipalities, with the aim of creating a national strategy that will be put before the Cabinet for approval.
Lebanon’s percentage of forest cover has decreased rapidly in recent years, with a 2004 study from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization revealing that the figure had fallen to 13 percent, compared to 30 percent in 1980. In 2010 the Agriculture Ministry set a target to increase coverage to 20 percent over a period of 20 years.
According to Ludwig Liagre, an environment economics expert for the GIZ project, the problem of deforestation is largely due to people’s attitudes.
“People do not realize the huge value brought about by forests,” he said at Thursday’s official project launch.
Aside from material gains, forests have hidden value, he said, which “should be integrated into the economy.” Ecotourism, erosion prevention or water purification are also positive elements for the country’s development, he added.
The program is part of the GIZ project Silva Mediterranea, which tackles problems associated with climate change in six countries across the Middle East and North Africa.
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
