Agreement to combat illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking

BEIRUT — Lebanon’s Agriculture Ministry and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) have signed a memorandum of understanding to combat illegal hunting and wildlife trafficking, the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Thursday.

The agreement, signed in the presence of Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani and several national and international stakeholders, outlines measures to establish responsible hunting zones, strengthen enforcement of environmental laws and enhance cooperation with security forces to protect biodiversity.

Read more

New massacre of migratory birds in Arida, Akkar

“The Agriculture Ministry plays a crucial role in environmental preservation, overseeing forests outside protected areas and regulating fishing — [another sector] which also suffers from excessive practices, though less visible,” Hani said.

Adonis Khatib, president of the Middle East Sustainable Hunting Center (MESHC), underscored the need to “involve” hunters in conservation efforts, arguing that they can become agents of change rather than sources of the problem.

Creation of responsible hunting zones

Under the agreement, designated responsible hunting zones will be established based on scientific criteria to protect wildlife while sustaining local hunters' livelihoods. SPNL Director-General Asaad Serhal stressed the importance of a structured framework that allows “hunting activities to coexist with biodiversity conservation.”

Read more

Severed from the sea by the war, Sour’s fishermen are mending their nets and casting for better days

Hani noted that Lebanon is a signatory to multiple international conventions, including the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds and the Convention on Biological Diversity. “We hope that one day, international organizations will no longer come to Lebanon to witness the slaughter of migratory birds, but to celebrate their safe passage over our territory,” he said. He also stressed the importance of law enforcement and establishing “a national ranking of threatened species,” to protect them better. 

The minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to preserve fishery resources, which sustain more than 100,000 Lebanese families. Protecting marine habitats and enforcing fishing regulations remain key priorities, he added.