The breathtaking beauty of the Chouf Cedar Reserve. Photo distributed by the reserve management.
The Chouf Cedar Reserve announced in a statement on Monday that it has been included, for the second time in its history, on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Green List.
The Green List is an IUCN program that "aims to promote protected areas with proven effective and efficient management by highlighting best practices and providing a benchmark for progress in equitable governance and effective management," the statement noted.
The main goal of the Green List, the statement continued, is "to increase the number of protected areas that are managed effectively and equitably while advancing the conservation of natural, cultural, social, and aesthetic values." It assesses "the management effectiveness of protected areas based on 50 indicators across 17 success criteria grouped into four themes: governance, management, design and planning, conservation outcomes, and interaction with the local community and their level of involvement in managing the reserve," the statement explained.
In November 2018, the Chouf Biosphere Reserve received its first Green List certification, according to the reserve's website. It is the first protected area in Arab countries to earn this distinction twice. To maintain its place on this prestigious list, the reserve's management conducted a self-assessment complemented by evaluations from regional experts, who confirmed its compliance with the required criteria.
In its statement, the reserve’s management said that this new recognition "strengthens its determination to protect the environment in a scientific and methodical manner."
