18 September 2008

BEIRUT: Zena Khalil, a Lebanese recycling artist and environmental activist, wanted to create a sacred memento for her brother's wedding. She joined an ongoing native tree planting project initiated by the American University of Beirut's (AUB) Nature Conservation Center for Sustainable Futures, (IBSAR) - aimed at raising the guests' interest in Lebanon's environment.

"Growing up in Nigeria my brother Nidal and I developed a special connection to the land," says Zena Khalil. "Since we were flying people in from all around the world, I thought it would be a great idea to plant trees for each of the over 1,000 guests attending my brother's wedding."

The whole idea started while Zena and Nidal were making preparations for the wedding.

"Nidal was worried about all the waste we were creating and we started to question what we were doing because we've always been concerned about aiding the environment rather than destroying it," adds Khalil.

After Nidal suggested planting a forest, Zena immediately contacted IBSAR's outreach coordinator, Arbi Sarkissian, to assist in planting 1,000 trees.

Speaking to IBSAR, while driving along the natural scenery of the Chouf Mountains on her way to her brother's wedding reception; Khalil highlighted the importance of awakening Lebanese consciousness to environmental issues in her native country.

"We wanted to start a trend and usually trends in Lebanon start with drinking and dancing, but we thought with the trees we could make the idea interesting enough that it would inspire others," says Khalil. "The tree gift brochures and small wooden tree silhouette souvenirs, donated by IBSAR, aided us in raising awareness among our guests."

More than 2,000 hectares of Lebanon's forestry were destroyed in October 2007 after almost 240 fires engulfed Lebanon's southern, central and northern regions. Lebanon has lost almost 40 percent of its tree cover in the past 40 years.

"October and November are the most dangerous months here for fires because the land is neglected and with drought the bio mass becomes a dangerous fire fuse," Mounir Bou Ghanem, head of the Association for Forest Development and Conservation, told the daily As-Safir in an interview last year.

According to the latest Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA, 2005), deforestation continues at an alarmingly high rate - about 13 million hectares per year. Sustainable management of forests (SFM) is a crucial method in the agencies collective fight to alleviate poverty worldwide.

Trees play a key role in the environment's natural landscape due to their ability to prevent erosion and specific weather-sheltered ecosystem in and under their foliage. Trees also aid in producing oxygen and reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as well as moderating ground temperatures.

Native trees and plants characterize the natural and cultural heritage of the land. Currently, Lebanon is facing a decline in its biodiversity; resulting in a loss of indigenous and endemic plants and animals.

"This is mainly due to factors such as unrestricted development, overexploitation of natural resources, agricultural expansion and the introduction of foreign or alien species from abroad," says professor Salma Talhouk, director of IBSAR.

"The diverse species of native trees and shrubs, some of which are relics and currently either threatened or endangered, should be preserved before they disappear forever. The conservation of biodiversity cannot be accomplished by scientists and experts. It can only happen if communities are active partners and if they develop interest in assuming the role of guardians of the country's natural heritage"

To preserve Lebanon's biodiversity and natural heritage, IBSAR has started a tree planting campaign 'Seeds of hope, Trees for tomorrow' (www.ibsar.org) supported financially by individuals and institutions. With the help of faculty and student volunteers it has set for itself the objective of planting 50,000 native trees from more than 20 different tree and shrub species to be planted in towns and villages in partnership with municipalities.

"What differentiates this project from other tree planting initiatives is that the campaign is aimed at community planting within towns, with the objective of establishing large and diverse field collections of native trees and shrubs which will bear, in the future, a diverse and accessible source of seeds for producing the largest variety of native Lebanese trees throughout Lebanon," an AUB statement said on Wednesday.

For the past five years IBSAR has been producing native trees at the AUB farm in the Bekaa and highlighting their functional, aesthetic, and economic use. Educational activities have been conducted in Anjar in the Bekaa and Jwar al-Hoz in the Metn Area.

According to Sarkissian, educating the community on the essentials of developing a relationship with the environment will not only raise awareness of Lebanon's diverse trees but also stimulate communities to become guardians of biodiversity in their villages and region.

Currently, IBSAR is cultivating over 20 different species of trees to aid in maintaining Lebanon's biodiversity.

"Planting trees gives hope to the Lebanese people because they can witness the fruits of their labor," says Sarkissian.

"We want to encourage the next generation, even in times of war, to help preserve biodiversity in Lebanon through the use of land art activities, tree identification workshops and tree planting events." - The Daily Star

Copyright The Daily Star 2008.