The Syrian crisis has placed a tremendous pressure on the economic situation in vulnerable communities across the country, limiting the capacity of vulnerable Syrians and Lebanese to sustain their own well-being. Moreover, the crisis is having a large impact on the already strained natural resources and energy supplies, including negative impacts of over felling of trees during the winter season and overgrazing by Syrian sheepherders all year around.
Lebanon’s surface is covered by 13% of forest including Pine, Cedar, Oak, Fir, Juniper and others. Most of these forests are found on the western slopes of the Mount Lebanon chain in the north, whereas the South has the least forests. In addition, Lebanese forests contain a wide range of aromatic, wild and medicinal plants and are habitat to a wide range of animal and bird species. The forest area has decreased by 35%. This reduction was among others caused by erosion, wars, temperature surges, urbanization and the increase in fuel prices which has forced people to look for alternative sources of heating. The main threats to forests are over felling, overgrazing and forest fires. Forest fires are an
annual occurrence due to the dryness of the terrain, climate change, agricultural malpractices and poor management. Lebanon loses approximately 1,500 to 2,000 hectares annually to wildfire, deforestation, urbanization and other factors. These forests provide economic opportunities for many Lebanese and support ecological functioning in an ever-changing regional climate. Forests are one of the country’s most important natural assets. They contribute to: land degradation neutrality; livelihoods for forest-dependent communities especially when they provide valuable products including seeds, fruits, aromatic and medicinal plants; and recreational opportunities. In Lebanon, Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) directly generate between US$ 80 to 97 million of sales per year, creating (primary and secondary) income for 10 000 to 15 000 rural households, so between 42 000 and 63 000 people1.
To improve livelihoods and reduce tensions between Lebanese host community members and Syrian refugees, UNDP seeks to support forest and land management initiatives through its Livelihoods and Local Economic Development Strategy. The strategy seeks to address the challenges faced by Lebanon, in light of the Syrian crisis, in relation to the deteriorating economic conditions in the country and the increasing unemployment rates, poverty levels and consequently social instability, particularly in the most vulnerable host communities. This includes labor intensive forest and land management activities, with the dual benefit of supporting vulnerable Syrian and Lebanese beneficiaries with an income for their daily work, while contributing to the implementation of the national strategies of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) for increasing green spaces and reducing the risks of forest fires.
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