Reforestation campaign relaunched

The Daily Star – BEIRUT: Environment Minister Mohammad Rahhal re-launched on Wednesday a campaign to reforest Lebanon with the collaboration of Lebanon Green Again Organization. The campaign started last year under the patronage of former Environment Minister Tony Karam and aimed at reforesting Lebanon using Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) helicopters. It includes the areas of Batroun, Zgharta, Akkar, Deir al-Qamar, Qobayat and Dibbiyeh in the north; the areas of Nabatieh, and Qaraoun in the south; and the western Bekaa. The campaign will spread about 4,000 tons of seeds.

Rahhal launched the project from the Hamat airport in the north where an LAF helicopter took off to spread seeds above burned lands and forests.

Rahhal said after the flight that he was surprised by the number of coal burning sites he found and the arbitrary cutting of trees.

“I will not keep quiet about this matter and I will contact the governor of the north and the public prosecutor to take necessary measures,” he added.

He added that trimming trees was beneficiary if done in an organized way but that the activities he saw were chaotic and needed to be controlled. “The damage we saw from the helicopter needs several years to be undone,” he said.

He also confirmed that the processing of over 350 orders for cutting trees has been halted, and then asked the concerned authorities to handle this issue responsibly and arrest any violators. “The Environment Ministry does not have the practical authority to follow up on the case and incriminate violators and this is why I am referring the case to the Interior Ministry,” Rahhal said.

As for the rock and sand quarries across the country, Rahhal said that his ministry had a consulting role in the matter and that many permits were being handed out without his knowledge. However, He added that he was preparing for a collaboration plan with other ministries.

Rahhal also stressed the need for an active environment police and an environment public prosecutor in order to save Lebanon’s remaining 13 percent of forestland. He added that the reforestation campaign was only a start and that a project was anticipated for 2011 to launch greenhouses able to grow up to 2 million trees per year.

The minister also emphasized the influence of nongovernmental organizations and media outlets in protecting the environment and asked the media to continue to play a positive role in raising awareness about the environment.

Rahhal also commented on the test results of water studies in Chekka after oil pollution was reported on the shore.

He said the results showed progress and that tests would be conducted again to confirm the water was clean. He added that a statement would be released on Monday about this issue.