Minister of Environment Tamara al-Zein and UNOPS representatives sign an agreement on support for Lebanon in managing forest fires, on May 14, 2025. (Credit: NNA)
BEIRUT — Lebanon has signed an agreement with the United Nations to receive support in fighting forest fires and integrating sustainable forest management practices ahead of the summer season, which is often and increasingly marked by uncontrollable fires.
According to the state-run National News Agency, the Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) signed an agreement under the “Community-based Wildfire Risk Management in Lebanon's Vulnerable Landscapes” project, which was approved in October 2024. The project is managed by the World Bank and funded by a $3.48 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
As part of the agreement, UNOPS will support first responders by providing critical equipment, vehicles and communication systems for early warning and rapid response, NNA reports, and help establish joint local operations centers for coordinating fire response efforts. In parallel, technical support will be provided to conduct biodiversity assessments, develop forest and wildfire management plans, and support sustainable forest management practices.
UNOPS representative and Amman Director Mohammed Othman is cited as saying that the agreement will also include working toward the conservation of Lebanon's forests — which are threatened by logging, fires, and developments — through policy work, cross-sector collaboration and investments in forest management.
During the signing ceremony, Minister of Environment Tamara al-Zein said she hoped that this "agreement will be the beginning of fruitful partnerships and projects with both UNOPS and the World Bank."
"This project is very important as it paves the way towards the development of a comprehensive national early warning system for hazards in Lebanon, especially floods and fires," she said. "Such a system will save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen our national response and preparedness capacity."
Jean-Christophe Carré, Regional Director of the World Bank's Middle East Department, called on the authorities, agencies, and communities involved in the project to maintain "strong partnerships" with each other, in order for the work to be effectively implemented.
Carré also said he hopes the project will inform similar programs in other Mediterranean countries in the future. “While the World Bank will provide technical expertise and global knowledge gained from other countries in this field, we also look forward to sharing the lessons learned from this project with other countries in the Mediterranean region affected by forest fires."
