#HimaEcoMedia

Aitat, Lebanon – July 2026 – Thirty new Nature Guides from communities surrounding the Upper Beirut River Valley and the Hima Covenant municipalities in the West Aley region have successfully graduated from the Homat al Hima Programme, marking another milestone in community-led conservation efforts and the vision of establishing Lebanon’s first Natural Park.

Implemented by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) in integration with the Droub el Hima initiative, the training programme forms part of the project “Towards Lebanon’s First Natural Park”, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

The graduates represent the communities of Ras el Matn, Hammana, Abadieh, Qobeih, Hlalieh and Rweiset el Ballout. Through five intensive training sessions in Nature Guiding Skills and First Aid, participants acquired practical expertise in nature interpretation, visitor engagement, biodiversity conservation, trail safety, environmental stewardship and emergency response, equipping them to become ambassadors for sustainable ecotourism and custodians of their natural and cultural heritage.

The graduation ceremony, held in Aitat, brought together local leaders, environmental experts and community representatives, including Mayor Rober Syoufi, President of the Union of Municipalities, Mayor of Aitat Imad Abi Saeb, Fadi Ghanem, President of Ghadi Association and Coordinator of the IUCN Members’ Network in Lebanon, Eng. Malek Ghandour, President of the Lebanese Environment Forum and member of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council, and SPNL Director General Assad Serhal.

Speaking at the ceremony, SPNL Director General Assad Serhal emphasized that community empowerment remains the foundation of the Hima approach.

“Protected landscapes thrive when local communities become their guardians. These new Nature Guides will not only introduce visitors to the beauty and richness of our landscapes but will also contribute to biodiversity conservation, strengthen local livelihoods and help realize the vision of Lebanon’s first Natural Park.”

For his part, Fadi Ghanem stressed the importance of investing in people as a cornerstone of conservation and sustainable development.

“Today’s graduates are more than trained guides; they are ambassadors of nature and hope. By empowering local communities and reconnecting people with their landscapes, we are building a model where conservation becomes a driver for sustainable development, environmental stewardship and community resilience. The Hima experience demonstrates that protecting biodiversity and improving livelihoods go hand in hand, and that local communities are the true guardians of Lebanon’s natural heritage.”

 

Graduates received certificates recognizing their successful completion of the programme and their commitment to promoting responsible tourism, environmental awareness and community-based conservation.

The event also featured an exhibition organized in partnership with the Aitat Women’s Association, showcasing locally produced traditional foods (mouneh) and handcrafted products. The exhibition highlighted the essential role of women entrepreneurs in preserving local traditions, generating sustainable livelihoods and strengthening rural economies.

The graduation of this new cohort of Nature Guides represents another significant step toward the establishment of Lebanon’s first Natural Park through an innovative conservation model that integrates biodiversity protection, sustainable tourism, local economic development and active citizen participation.

Through the Homat al Hima and Droub el Hima programmes, SPNL continues to empower communities as the primary custodians of their natural and cultural heritage, ensuring that conservation delivers lasting environmental, social and economic benefits for present and future generations.