Experience of Mount Moussa Natural Reserve in involving women and local community in sustainable development

As Safir newspaper published a report on “the Mount Moussa Biosphere Reserve which is located in Keserouan and was chosen in 2009 as the third natural reserve for biosphere in Lebanon as part of the biosphere reserves affiliated to UNESCO within the framework of the "Man and the Biosphere (MAB)” programme.  It is to be noted that a presidential decree was issued in February 2012, classifying Mount Moussa as a natural reserve benefiting from the protection of the Ministry of Environment.  This particular natural reserve is known for its untapped wilderness, rich forests and cultural heritage.  As part of its endeavor to preserve biodiversity and cultural heritage, the Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa set the necessary infrastructure for eco tourism in the area and engaged the local community in contributing to its sustainable development.
Within this vain, the media and ecotourism responsible in the organization, Cristelle Abou Shabke, said in her interview with As Safir, that since Jabal Moussa was declared a natural reserve, the association has implemented a number of developmental and environmental projects in the area including a project to support local development which started in 2011.  As part of that project, the group undertook the training of 40 local women in Mouneh production with experts who guided them on standard production techniques.  The organization is also facilitating production and marketing as it buys all the production of the trainees and takes full responsibility for its commercialisation.  Abou Shabke also pointed out to a separate seedling project through which interested individuals from the area are replanting seeds from the mountains and selling seedlings to various associations.
Source: Al-Safir 10 September 2013