Agriculture ministry strengthens prevention measures

BEIRUT — The agriculture ministry on Friday issued a circular strengthening forest fire prevention measures, including clearing operations, cleaning, and reducing flammable vegetation.

According to the ministry’s statement, these measures are intended to focus on proactive intervention before fires break out, instead of being limited to battling flames once they are declared.

"Our goal is to move from an approach based on putting out fires to one of prevention and risk reduction," said Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani. He also emphasized the need for coordination between his ministry, municipalities, local communities, and environmental associations, asserting that "prevention begins with managing the land before fire reaches it."

The minister added that "a forest is not just made up of trees, but represents an integrated ecosystem. Its protection requires scientific management of plant cover, periodic maintenance, organized cleaning, regulation of grazing, and stronger on-the-ground monitoring."

The circular stipulates that the ministry, in cooperation with municipalities and environmental associations, will carry out pruning, cleaning, and removal of flammable vegetation in state-owned forests and wooded areas, including Calabrian pine forests. Priority areas will be determined based on technical inspections, particularly in relation to their exposure to fire risk.

Municipalities are also tasked with identifying forests and wooded areas under their responsibility that require prevention work. Regular cleaning along roadsides, including the removal of dry grass, waste, and other flammable materials, is also planned to help limit the spread of fires between inhabited areas and forests.

The circular further authorizes the use of regulated grazing as a prevention tool in certain unburned areas to reduce vegetation that could fuel flames. This practice will require specific authorization, including details such as location, period, and the number of livestock. Grazing will, however, remain prohibited in forests affected by fires or logging for the period prescribed by law, in order to protect natural regeneration.