The French Development Agency (AFD)-funded program aims to initiate afforestation projects and their complementary infrastructure works in several localities in Lebanon, to be implemented by various NGOs, with the purpose of contributing to the Ministry of Agriculture’s goal to plant 40 million trees over 70,000 hectares by 2030 to address forest sector degradation in Lebanon. The program also funded rural infrastructure works in vulnerable communities in Akkar, Beka’a and Ba’albek. 

Managed by the Council for Development and Reconstruction (CDR), Parisfal implemented the following projects:

  • Nine afforestation projects implemented by various national NGOs as follows: 174 ha in Mount Lebanon Governorate (Damour and Niha), 136 ha in North Lebanon Governorate (Tannourine and Ehden Nature Reserve), 274 ha in Bekaa Governorate (Rachaya Al Wadi, Qaroun, Baaloul, Majdel Balhis, Sultan Yaacoub, Hammara and El Bireh) and 149 ha in Baalbeck Hermel Governorate.
  • Construction of six irrigation lakes with capacities between 28,500 m3 and 50,000 m3 in Ainata, Deir El Ahmar and Zrazir (Baalbeck-Hermel Governorate), Akkar Al Atika and Akroum (Akkar Governorate) and Rachaya Al Wadi (Bekaa Governorate).
  • Rehabilitation of three existing irrigation lakes in Arouba (Baalbeck-Hermel Governorate), Aaqbeh (Bekaa Governorate) and Wadi Khaled (Akkar Governorate), with capacities of 100,000 m3, 50,000 m3 and 18,600 m3, respectively. 
  • Construction of irrigation networks, channels and spillways in Tall Abbas Al Gharbi and Kobbet Bchamra in Akkar Governorate.

 

Activities

The technical assistance support for this project was awarded to the Association FRMi, Ecocentra, and ID-Green Land Consultancy. Ecocentra’s role was to provide the following services:

  • Preparing an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for the program that provides guidance on screening, assessment and management measures required for all program activities to align with national regulations and AFD Environmental and Social Framework, including a gap analysis between the national legal framework and AFD requirements.
  • Technical assistance to selected NGOs to prepare detailed design of their forestation activities.
  • Preparing initial environmental assessment (IEE) for the nine selected reforestation projects covering a total area of 733 ha in line with Decree 8633/2012 and obtaining AFD and Ministry of Environment approval.
  • Conducting socioeconomic survey of 21 locations of proposed rural infrastructure projects through key informant interviews to assess demographic, social, and economic conditions, local tensions and Syrian refugees and needs in each town.
  • Supporting CDR to select 11 out of the 21 proposed rural infrastructure projects (mainly hill lakes and irrigation canals) based on the results of technical and socioeconomic surveys
  • Preparing IEEs for the eleven infrastructure projects in line with Decree 8633/2012 and obtaining AFD and Ministry of Environment approval.
  • Preparing detailed designs and tender documents for the eleven selected infrastructure projects.