#HimaEcoMedia

Beirut – The Director General of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), Assad Serhal, welcomed the launch of the new environmental media platform HimaEcoMedia, describing it as an important step in strengthening specialized environmental journalism and amplifying the message of nature conservation rooted in the Hima tradition.

Serhal emphasized that the launch of HimaEcoMedia comes at a particularly significant moment, as the world faces growing environmental challenges ranging from biodiversity loss to the escalating impacts of climate change. In this context, he stressed that responsible and science-based environmental media play a crucial role in raising awareness, communicating knowledge, and supporting global efforts to protect ecosystems and natural resources.

Highlighting the broader context of the initiative, Serhal noted that the Hima system represents one of the oldest community-based conservation models in the Arab world, grounded in the principles of sustainable and equitable management of natural resources. Over the past two decades, SPNL has successfully revived this traditional model through its Homat Al Hima (Guardians of the Hima) program, empowering municipalities and local communities to protect land, water, and wildlife through participatory stewardship.

These efforts, he explained, have led to the establishment of 44 Hima sites across Lebanon, forming a nationwide network of community-managed conservation areas that contribute to biodiversity protection, bird conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and eco-tourism, while strengthening the relationship between people and nature.

Serhal also pointed out that the Lebanese revival of the Hima system has increasingly gained international recognition as a pioneering model of community-led conservation. The approach has been highlighted in numerous global forums, particularly within the framework of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), where it has been presented as a successful example of linking nature, culture, and peace, notably through the initiative “Hima for Peace.”

In this context, Serhal underlined that the launch of HimaEcoMedia represents a natural extension of this growing movement, providing a specialized platform capable of telling the story of the Hima model to a wider global audience and promoting dialogue on nature conservation, biodiversity protection, and community stewardship.

He also praised the longstanding collaboration between SPNL and the Ghadi Association, led by Fadi Ghanem, noting that this partnership reflects a powerful synergy between field-based conservation work and professional environmental journalism.

“The launch of HimaEcoMedia is a welcome and timely initiative,” Serhal said. “It strengthens the media dimension of the Hima movement and helps carry its message beyond borders. We consider this platform a new member of the Hima family, contributing to spreading the values of stewardship, sustainability, and respect for nature.”

Serhal concluded by congratulating the founders and partners behind the new platform, expressing confidence that HimaEcoMedia will play a significant role in advancing environmental awareness and supporting global conservation efforts, while further reinforcing the close cooperation between SPNL and the Ghadi Association in promoting the Hima vision for nature and humanity.