“The government of Lebanon’s membership in IUCN has an important role in highlighting the environmental priorities in Lebanon and lifting them up to a global discourse. It will attract international attention to support such issues and priorities,” said Marton-Lefèvre during her meeting with the Secretary General of the ministry.

“The existing partnership with IUCN goes back almost 10 years. IUCN played a major role in the clean-up operation following the oil spill crisis during the last war in Lebanon in 2006. IUCN contracted and deployed an international expert to assess the impacts of this oil spill which later resulted in the production of a documentary on the Lebanon Oil Spill by IUCN in partnership with the ministry,” said Dr Berj Hatjian.

The IUCN Director General also met with IUCN members in Lebanon from local NGOs, lead by Dr Ali Darwish, IUCN Chair of the Lebanon National Committee and West Asia Regional Councilor. IUCN members in Lebanon include the Society for Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), the Green Line Association (GL), the Association for Forests, the Development and Conservation (AFDC), the Environment Protection Committee (EPC), the Friends of Horsch Ehden, the Friends of Environment (FoE), the Al Shouf Cedar Society (ACS) and the Jabal Moussa Protection Association.

These members attended the meeting with the IUCN Director General and presented their projects, programmes and activities related to conservation, forests, species, and protected areas.

“IUCN urges National Committees everywhere to make sure they are functional entities since they are considered the cornerstone of IUCN governance. After celebrating the 60th anniversary of IUCN, it’s now time for renewal and adding more value to our members,” said Dr Odeh Al Jayyousi, IUCN West Asia Regional Director.

Media team: Rania Faouri, Communications Officer, IUCN Regional Office for West Asia, Tel: +962 6 5546912/3/4 Fax: +962 6 5546915 Mobile +962 777888522, rania.faouri@iucn.org