Encroachments on and violations of forests continues despite tens of files deposited at the district attorney

The Minister of Agriculture, Akram Chehayeb, organised a Press Conference he held yesterday after presiding over the meeting of the committee to plant 40 million trees convened by the Cabinet.  During the press conference, Chehayeb revealed that degradation of the vegetation covering Lebanon has shrank from 13% to 11% despite the reforestation interventions because tree logging and violations of forests have gone on unabated regardless of the tens of files deposited with the district attorney. The conference was attended by the General Director of Cooperatives, President of the Administrative Committee of the Green Project, Gloria Abi- Zeid, representatives of the concerned ministries: environment, education, defense, interior, youth and sports, justice, finance, energy, and agriculture, of NGOs and the private sector.  Chehayeb further said that although several forest criminals have been referred to the juridical system, such crimes are recurrent on a daily basis.  He added that the meeting aimed at regulating the reforestation sector as well as protecting forests.  In a related vein, Cheyayeb added that a mechanism has been launched to develop a national reforestation plan which should be implemented during the upcoming 2014-20015 reforestation season which is about to kick off.  He also noted that the said committee will re-start its work during the month of November and so as to prepare for launching the committee’s plan during a national conference that will be held at the Grand Serail on December 10th coincinding with the celebration of the Day of the Tree.

(Source: Annahar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, Al Akhbar, 11 November 2014)