11 December 2007
BEIRUT: In 2003, the United Nations declared December 11 International Mountain Day to raise global awareness about the ecological, aesthetic, economic and social importance of the world's mountains. This year's theme focuses on climate change with the title "Facing Change: Climate Change in Mountain Areas."
With this theme in mind, Cyclamen organized on Sunday a trekking event to commemorate International Mountain Day for the fifth consecutive year.
Cyclamen is a subsidiary of TLB Destinations - a travel agency that promotes mutual understanding. Cyclamen specializes in "educational tourism for school groups, as well as family tourism, agro-tourism and eco-tourism," according to the group's Web site.
Cyclamen's objective is to "make citizens aware of, and contribute positively to, the conservation of the natural and cultural heritage of Lebanon."
The event aimed to raise awareness about the challenges facing mountains in light of climate change, as well as the benefits of the eco-tourism sector to the rural communities.
The day kicked off in the mountainous village of Balaa and trekkers hiked to the nearby town of Aaqoura. The Lebanese hikers were joined by participants from seven other nations, some of whom were visiting Lebanon's mountains for the first time. The participants picnicked along the way with sandwiches purchased from the local community. They later took another break to help out a person whose car was stuck in a snowdrift.
Another hike is scheduled for Tuesday and will commence at the nature reserve of Tannourine Cedars, where participants will climb to the peak of Mount Biyyad.
"Increasing local and international awareness of this sector bolsters our tourism economy, and boosts international recognition to this country's greatest treasure," said Nassim Yaccoub, Cyclamen's program manager.
"This year's event is going ahead, despite the current political instability, to show the world that the spectacular unspoiled mountains of Lebanon will always be a haven for lovers of nature and trekking.
"We also encourage overnight stays in the cozy rural lodgings within the DHIAFEE program [www.dhiafeeprogram.org] so that visitors can familiarize themselves better with the region," Yaccoub added.
During the event, trekkers were made aware of the challenges facing mountainous areas in the wake of climate change. Although Lebanon is not a major contributor to climate change compared to major industrialized countries, it's emissions of greenhouse gases do rank above the worldwide average. Rising temperatures worldwide are expected to lead to a reduction in the snow pack on the mountains, reducing the amount of water available during the dry months.
The participants were also made aware of how to reduce the effects of climate change in Lebanon with some practical tips, such as using buses instead of individual cars, as well as reducing their usage of air-conditioning and electric heating.
The International Mountain Day flag was raised by Cyclamen guides during the hike, along with flags featuring the logos of the sponsors, among which were TLB Destinations, USAID and Creditbank.
For more information, please visit www.tlb-destinations.com. - The Daily Star
