Minister of Environment reiterates the importance of preserving Lebanon Mountain Trail to strengthen economic opportunities in rural villages

The Minister of Environment, Mohammed el Mashnuk, reiterated the importance of protecting the Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT) and limiting the environmental attacks recorded by the LMT Association.  Mashnuk highlighted the importance of encouraging responsible eco-tourism and strengthening economic opportunities in rural villages. Mashnuk was speaking in a press conference organized yesterday by the LMT Association and attended by the association’s president, Karim el Jisr, who emphasized the importance of concerted efforts for protecting the environment notably by the state represented by environmental lawyers and police, as well as the municipalities, economic institutions and civil society organizations.
It is to be noted that the Lebanon Mountain Trail was established in 2007, with the USAID support, and aims to showcase the natural beauty and cultural wealth of Lebanon’s mountains and to expand economic opportunities in rural areas through environmentally and socially responsible tourism. LMT extends from Qbaiyat in the north of Lebanon to Marjaayoun in the south, and includes more than 75 towns and villages, (29 located in the north, 23 in northern Mount Lebanon, 10 in southern Mount Lebanon and 16 in the south), in addition to three natural reserves, 11 guesthouses, and three rest-points and one camping site.
Source: Al-Nahar 13 May 2014