BACKGROUND

Tree planting activities are essential as they restore lost, damaged and endangered species and ecosystems, while bringing people back in touch with nature. In general, tree planting efforts in Lebanon rely on limited kinds of native tree species (mostly cedar, pine, carob, olive, and oak). Although these are predominant species found in Lebanon, it is important to note that Lebanon’s forests and woodlands consist of more than 30 tree and shrub species. If we keep planting a limited number of species we will be (unknowingly) contributing to the impoverishment of the composition of our forests and woodlands and will make them more susceptible to disease and stress from climate change impacts.

Major reforestation efforts usually take place with limited community involvement as only specialized or dedicated people become involved, thus leaving the local community in the backstage. In this case the immediate environment of communities (i.e. areas surrounding their homes, schools, local gardens and leisure areas) are often neglected from any tree planting. In other cases where local communities are involved in reforestation projects, they are often hampered by the absence of planting material and limited knowledge of the natural plant diversity. The result is that communities engage in reforestation activities using poorly selected species that are not always suitable to a site, or do not promote biological diversity (biodiversity), thus affecting the overall health of ecosystems. 

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IBSAR – ‘SEEDS OF HOPE, TREES FOR TOMORROW’ CAMPAIGN

IBSAR’s ‘Seeds of Hope, Trees for Tomorrow’ is intended to complement existing reforestation programs in Lebanon through community-based tree planting initiatives that focus on preserving native species of Lebanese trees and shrubs in open spaces and public areas within towns and villages. The campaign will ensure biodiversity conservation and decentralization of reforestation efforts in Lebanon thus improving the communities’ immediate neighborhood environment and ensuring the diversity and sustainability of Lebanese flora and landscapes. This campaign is in line with IBSAR's vision 'for societies to become guardians and primary beneficiaries of biodiversity in the region'. Hence, we believe it is crucial to develop tree planting programs that engage local community members, thereby allowing communities to become guardians of their natural and cultural heritage.

IBSAR’s ‘Seeds of Hope, Trees for Tomorrow’ campaign has enabled us to establish a native tree nursery at AUB’s Agricultural Research and Education Center (AREC) located in Horsch Sneid - Bekaa. Furthermore, within this phase, long-term partnerships with local institutions and municipalities across Lebanon will be forged. Awareness will be raised about the importance of native tree planting through community involvement and training workshops that will be conducted for individuals and institutions across Lebanon. After the completion of this campaign, 50,000 native trees will be planted across Lebanon’s towns and villages and these local communities will hold the living “banks” , or what we term ’community forest field banks’ ( or CFFBs),for native trees and shrubs that will produce the seeds for future reforestation efforts in Lebanon.

IBSAR has established contacts and partnerships with local institutions and municipalities that have exhibited interest and commitment to our objectives and have agreed to engage local community members in planting trees within their neighborhoods. Each municipality will receive between 100-500 trees and shrubs from our native tree nursery in AREC that are the most adapted to the habitat characteristics of each village. Tree planting and post planting care will be the responsibility of each institution and/or municipality. However, the community at large, including school children, young adults, various local groups and associations, as well as IBSAR staff and volunteers will participate in the planting and awareness events as well as capacity building activities. In order to ensure the planting success and survival of trees, IBSAR will establish partnership agreements with the municipalities and/or institutions to acknowledge their commitment and their long-term commitment to care for the planting trees. 

Main objectives

1)     To protect and promote Lebanon’s diverse natural heritage through the planting of native trees and shrubs throughout Lebanese villages, towns and cities.

2)     To allow local inhabitants contribute to the well-being of their community by planting trees in locations that directly relate to their daily life.

3)     To initiate the establishment of future “banks” of native tree seeds in villages, towns and cities that will enable more diversity in reforestation efforts.

4)     To facilitate the decentralization of reforestation schemes that will enable the participation, commitment and ownership of local community members.

Activities

In addition to the native tree nursery and tree planting, the campaign’s objectives are met through additional complementary activities including training workshops, public outreach events and local community planting events. 

Capacity Building

Technical workshops will aim to develop the capacity of interested and committed individuals with the required know-how for proper native tree nursery activities: from forest seed collection to post-planting care. Capacity building will be provided for those that are or will be directly involved in the planting campaign in each respective region as well as individuals involved in tree planting, tree nurseries, reforestation activities and related educational fields. As such, the workshops target participants that include the following: agricultural technical schools, municipalities, local NGO’s, clubs and associations as well as scouts and students. These trained individuals will play a key role in ensuring the sustainability of our campaign as well as promoting proper native tree planting on the national level. The training workshops will include both lectures and hands-on field activities covering the following topics: (i) tree identification and planting zones, (ii) seed collection and processing, (iii) soil preparation and composting, (iv) container forest tree nursery, (v) tree planting and (vi) post-planting care. 

Outreach  

Public outreach activities and events will target the local communities where the planting will occur as well as concerned stakeholders on the national level. With our outreach component, we hope to increase awareness of the importance of native tree planting and the engagement of local communities in the entire process. The target audience for these activities include local community members, municipalities, syndicate of flowers and plant growers in Lebanon, agricultural technical schools, AUB students as well as local NGO’s, clubs, schools and scouts. Workshops will cover various topics through lectures and practical exercises including (i) basic identification of native trees and shrubs, (ii) importance of using native species in reforestation efforts and (iii) good practices in tree maintenance (pruning, watering, fertilizers etc).

Community Tree Planting Events

Tree planting events will be held at selected villages and towns during which local community members will get the opportunity to become directly involved in the planting of their own trees. The event will include a presentation covering our ‘Seeds of Hope, Trees for Tomorrow’ Campaign as well as provide for an open forum for information exchange and discussion between IBSAR staff, local community members, municipalities and trained volunteers. These events will help establish a strong partnership between the different stakeholders involved in the planting as well as foster a strong feeling of ownership and commitment among the local communities and concerned stakeholders. Furthermore, media coverage of these events through television, newspapers and magazines will assist in promoting native tree planting across the country as well as present our campaign, its objectives and results in a transparent matter.  

Results/Outputs

1.     50,000 trees from over 20 native species planted across Lebanese villages, towns and cities

2.     Tree identification and planting zones manual

3.     Container forest tree nursery, seed collection and seed processing manual

4.     Soil preparation and composting manual

5.     Tree planting & post-planting care manual

6.     species planting kit  (planting guidelines for each tree specie)

Tree Planting Budget

Our ‘Seeds of Hope, Trees for Tomorrow’ campaign has priced each native tree cultivated at AREC at 10,000 LL (approximately US$6.65) that is inclusive of the following costs:

1.     Gathering seeds from forests (labor, tools, materials)

2.     Preparing seeds (cleaning, shelling, treatment)

3.     Propagation (greenhouse and laboratory operations)

4.     Transporting seeds (distance factor)

5.     Planting seeds (materials and labor)

6.     Soil production (composting machinery and containers)

7.     Materials for seed planting (containers, water, tools)

8.     Maintaining and nurturing seedlings (labor, water, storage in greenhouses)

9.     Transporting young trees to designated planting areas

10.  Post-planting follow-up visits