(GCP /LEB/027/SCF)

Summary

Lebanon is known for its rich forest biodiversity that is available in a very limited area of land; the country covers 0.007 percent of the world’s land surface area and hosts about 0.8 percent of the world’s recorded and catalogued tree species. Lebanon encompasses important components of the Mediterranean vegetation which are relicts from the ancient forests that dominated the Mediterranean Basin two million years ago (5th CBD, 2015) and its forests have been identified by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) as one of the world’s most threatened terrestrial ecosystems.

Forests in Lebanon have long been subject to intense human intervention and exploitation, resulting into forests losses equivalent to 35 percent of the forest cover (Europe Aid, 2014). Threats to mountain forest ecosystems are exacerbated by climate change as argued in the forthcoming Third National Communication (TNC, 2016). By 2040, rainfall is projected to decrease by 10-20 percent, temperatures to increase by 1-2°C and extreme weather events are expected to intensify, with drought periods projected to become 9 days longer by 2040, altogether resulting in a higher water stress on plants and water shortages. Direct impact of climate change would be manifested through more recurrent, larger and more intense forest fires, pest outbreaks, die-back of trees, and reduced regeneration. Some bioclimatic zones and habitats would disappear by the end of the century, namely those found on higher altitudes.

The climate change and human activities nexus is accelerating the pace of forest and land degradation and the depletion of natural resources. Poor rural populations, including a growing number of Syrian refugees, in mountain forest areas are the most vulnerable to climate change. These communities rely on fuel wood for heating, and on non-wood forest products for part of their incomes and livelihoods (pine nuts, honey, aromatic and medicinal plants, ecotourism, etc.). Projected increase in forest fire and pest outbreaks would further reduce availability of wood and non-wood forest products, while the demand on forest resources remains and further increases.

Without a GEF intervention, continued survival of fragile forest ecosystems and the resilience of vulnerable communities are at stake.