Story | 02 июл, 2012

IUCN joins Holcim for quarry restoration in Lebanon

IUCN ROWA and Holcim Lebanon have signed an agreement to restore an old quarry in Lebanon and provide a model for the restoration of abandoned quarries in the country.

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Photo: © IUCN, Mufleh Abbadi

As part of Holcim’s sustainability policy, and the Global Memorandum of Understanding between IUCN and Hocim, IUCN ROWA and Holcim Lebanon signed an agreement through which, both parties aim to exert an effort to restore an old quarry that belongs to Holcim and is located in Chekka, Lebanon.

This project has multiple purposes:

  • Help Holcim understand the difficulties of rehabilitating a quarry and give it the know-how of doing such activity.
  • Reflect a sense of professionalism and commitment towards the local
  • communities.
  • Strengthen the position of Holcim as one of the environmental pioneers in Lebanon.

With the fast growing infrastructure development in Lebanon, abandoned quarries in the country signify today deteriorated scenery and nature. Furthermore, it represents an increasing degradation threat to the landscape, ecosystem and the environment. It has been reported by the Alleviating Barriers to Quarries Rehabilitation in Lebanon Project, that there are more than 1,278 quarry sites are distributed over forestland and grass land, including more than 1,000 quarry sites that are abandoned without restoration, leaving behind huge negative impacts on the local ecosystems and livelihoods of the surrounding communities.

While Holcim Lebanon is committed to allocated resources for the project (which will take place in two phases), IUCN shall provide the technical support needed for the assessment, design and support throughout the project implementation to ensure that such initiative is sustained and presented as a good example for others to follow in Lebanon. Furthermore this Project also attempts to involve local partners in the different phases of the project according to their expertise.

This project is expected to provide a model for the restoration of abandoned quarries in Lebanon, and also to be replicated elsewhere in the region.

More information: mufleh.abbadi@iucn.org