Program Summary:

PROGREEN will support the Government of Lebanon prepare forest fire management strategies as part of a wider move towards more sustainable forest landscape management.  

Challenge:

Fuel wood collection, land clearing for urban and agricultural development, livestock grazing, and forest fires are threatening the health and resilience of Lebanon’s forests and other ecosystemsAs part of the 2015-2025 National Forest Policy, the Ministry of Agriculture launched the first National Forest Program in 2015, outlining the government’s sustainable forest management approach and proposing coordination and cooperation between forest-relevant public and private actors. However, the integration of the national forest fire management strategy withing Lebanon’s move towards sustainable forest management will need to be revisited if the country is to address the growing challenge of forest fires, which are exacerbated by climate change and increasing in intensity and frequency.  

Approach:

PROGREEN will strengthen forest fire risk assessment and fire prevention forecasting by supporting forest data collection, modeling, and information sharing. This includes institutional assessment to identify challenges and opportunities for enhancing coordination and collaboration among stakeholders. Sustainable forest management actively involves various stakeholders—including local communities and private forest landowners—and will help to secure local livelihoods and create job opportunities. This is especially important in the context of the COVID-19 recovery efforts. Building on an evaluation by the Disaster Risk Management Unit4 based at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, PROGREEN will assess the forest strategy and planning framework, including strengths and weaknesses of the national forest fire strategy, thus contributing to the long-term protection of forests and strengthening local forest management capacities.  

Expected Results:  

• Analytical review and gap analysis of the existing Forest Policy and the National Forest Fire Management Strategy through public discussion groups that include local actors, state actors, and experts. 
• Institutional capacity assessment and stakeholder analysis 
• Policy notes on sustainable forest management and forest fire management for specific legislative application and implementation decrees 
• Technical assistance, capacity building, and knowledge exchanges at national and regional levels to reinforce sustainable forest management and improved forest fire management