EU funded project to support local development in North Lebanon in Hermel

The new Minister of Agriculture, Akram Chehayeb, stressed the importance of monitoring and control of any forest exploitation and development project. The Minister was speaking yesterday with the project team during the presentation of the "project to support local development in North Lebanon" (ADELNORD), which covers the areas of Akkar, Dennyeh highlands and Hermel. The project which is implemented by the Council for Development and Reconstruction in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and with grant funding amounting to 18 million Euros, from the European Union, includes several components namely: the construction of a 130 kilometer long agricultural road, 80 kilometer meter long irrigation canals as well as one sand pond.  The project will also entail the rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructures in collaboration with local municipalities, cooperatives, local agricultural centers and the Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute.  Other components include the setting up of local community organisations for water users/consumers in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Water and the water directorates in the Beqaa and the North as well as supporting municipalities to develop and implement local development plans.
After presenting the project, emphasis was placed on its environmental component as Chehayeb noted the importance of putting in place strict control mechanisms to make use of forests so that the project does not allow indiscriminate tree cutting.  He also emphasized the importance of environmental awareness in order to preserve Lebanon’s natural wealth and encourage environmental tourism.  He also spoke of the need to set up management systems that regulate investments in forests while preserving and protecting them from fire.
Source: Al-Safir, Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Diyar 20 March 2014