Innovating knowledge sharing for sustainable forest and landscape management: how KHIBRA can connect lessons from Lebanon, Algeria, and beyond

As climate change and human activity place increasing pressure on the world’s forests, especially those in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, knowledge sharing and cross-learning are critical to advancing sustainable forest and landscape management. The Regional Knowledge Hub for Integrated Biodiversity Resilience and Agrosilvopastoral Food Systems (KHIBRA) platform plays a key role in fostering collaboration, enabling practitioners, policymakers, and experts to exchange experiences, access technical resources, and participate in capacity-building initiatives. By leveraging KHIBRA, countries like Algeria and Lebanon can enhance their strategies for forest and landscape restoration, learning from each other’s successes and challenges.

Shared learning between Lebanon and Algeria

Algeria and Lebanon both face challenges related to forest degradation and landscape management, particularly in preserving biodiversity and enhancing sustainable land use practices. Algeria’s cork oak forests, an ecological treasure covering diverse landscapes, are threatened by unsustainable harvesting and climate change, leading to land degradation. Similarly, Lebanon’s forest landscapes, which make up about 13 percent of the country’s land area, have experienced pressures from rural abandonment, unregulated land use, and environmental changes.

In Lebanon, the Smart Adaptation of Forest Landscapes in Mountain Areas (SALMA) project, launched in 2016, played a pivotal role in restoring ecological balance and supporting rural communities. The SALMA project, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), has focused on reforestation and climate resilience. By engaging local communities, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas, the project has improved agricultural productivity, diversified crops, and created income opportunities through forest management activities and agrosilvopastoral practices.

The SALMA project reforested 674 hectares in 23 sites and developed sustainable forest management plans for 1 230 hectares. The project also strengthened the capacity of local communities and authorities to manage and reduce forest fire risks. This approach, which includes fire prevention measures such as capacity building of local communities for early intervention, reducing flammable biomass in fire-prone areas, and firebreaks, has contributed to Lebanon’s growing success in forest fire management. The community-based approach to fire management the SALMA project adopted builds on the lessons learned from previous initiatives by FAO, UN agencies and other actors. These experiences can be particularly beneficial for Algeria, where fire risks are also rising due to climate change.

_{© FAO/Kai Wiedenhoefer}

The success of Lebanon’s approach: integrating communities in forest and landscape management

Lebanon’s Forest and Landscape Restoration Mechanism (FLRM)-supported initiatives emphasize the role of local communities in managing forests and landscapes. The FLRM, established by FAO, supports countries in upscaling, monitoring, and reporting on forest and landscape restoration (FLR) activities. A key focus in Lebanon has been on sustainable grazing management, which allows cooperatives and local communities to restore and manage forested lands effectively. This approach ensures that landscapes are maintained in a way that supports biodiversity while also providing economic opportunities for rural populations. By integrating FLR principles, Lebanon has successfully engaged local communities in sustainable land use practices, particularly through initiatives that support grazing management.

The sustainable use of forest food products, including herbs and other non-wood forest products (NWFPs), has been a central aspect of Lebanon’s approach. By strengthening value chains for products like aromatic and medicinal plants, honey, and pine nuts—sectors that employ thousands of rural workers—Lebanon has created economic incentives for communities to engage in forest conservation. Training on forest-based jobs has further empowered communities to adopt sustainable practices that balance livelihoods with environmental stewardship.

Applying Lebanon’s experience to Algeria’s forest landscapes

Algeria’s cork oak forests hold significant potential for adopting a similar integrated approach to forest and landscape management. FAO’s "Rehabilitation and Integrated Sustainable Development of Algerian Cork Oak Forest Production Landscapes" project already highlights the importance of engaging local stakeholders in sustainable management practices. The project has developed sustainable forest management plans through biodiversity inventories and digitized mapping in three pilot zones: Taourirt Ighil Bejaia, Béni Idder-Jijel, and Hafir Tlemcen. Representatives from associations, farmers, and academics have participated in national and regional workshops to enhance local engagement.

Strengthening value chains for NWFPs such as cork, honey, and mastic, which contribute significantly to local economies, could provide economic opportunities while promoting conservation, mirroring Lebanon’s successful approach. The project aims to establish 60 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and community-based organizations (CBOs), with at least 40 percent being women-led, to ensure economic sustainability and gender inclusivity. Additionally, traceability systems, labeling, and certification mechanisms are being introduced to enhance the economic value of these forest products.

_{@ FAO/Nabil Aoumeur}

A path forward: strengthening knowledge sharing for sustainable investment

To enhance regional collaboration, KHIBRA serves as a crucial tool in facilitating structured dialogues, technical exchanges, and capacity-building initiatives between Lebanon and Algeria. By focusing on land restoration and sustainable forest management, KHIBRA can support the development of national strategies tailored to each country’s needs, promoting investment in long-term sustainability.

At the same time, the NENA Regional Investment Framework for Integrated Development and Ecosystem Restoration Solutions provides a broader framework to align national efforts with a comprehensive regional approach to ecosystem restoration. While significant investments have been made in recent years, the NENA region continues to face critical gaps in climate finance, receiving only a fraction of the global resources required to meet restoration and development needs. This initiative aims to bridge these gaps by optimizing financing mechanisms, leveraging blended finance models, and positioning land restoration as an economic driver that delivers long-term social and environmental benefits.

By integrating financial, institutional, and knowledge-based resources, the framework fosters collaboration, evidence-based action, and strategic planning—ensuring that restoration efforts are not only environmentally sustainable but also economically viable.

Through the combined efforts of KHIBRA and the investment framework, Lebanon, Algeria, and other NENA countries can accelerate investments in restoration, strengthen local economies, and build climate resilience. This integrated approach will help transform land restoration into a regional driver of sustainability, ensuring a resilient future for forests, landscapes, and communities across the region.

By: Fidaa Haddad

Senior Programme Officer, FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa