Nat'l Profiles
 
 

Population:
3,562,699
(July 1999 est.)


Land Area:
Total: 10,400 sq km
Land: 10,230 sq km
Water: 170 sq km


Coastline:
225 km


(Source:  CIA World Factbook 1999)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Lebanon

 

Contacts

Ministry of Environment
http://www.moe.gov.lb/

SDNP, Lebanon
http://www.sdnp.org.lb

[country Map of Lebanon]

(Source:  CIA World Factbook 1999)
 

SUMMARY OF OCEAN 
AND COASTAL PROGRAMS

Many thanks are due to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, the source of the information below. The information was taken from Lebanon's submission to the 7th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (last update: January 1999). For further information on social and economic factors, natural resources, and institutional structures in Lebanon see the United Nations System-Wide Web Site on National Implementation of the Rio Commitments National Information for Lebanon at

http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/lebanon/index.htm
 

OCEAN AND COASTAL AREAS

Integrated Decision-Making

Several ministries and institutions are involved with coastal zone management issues, namely: Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Housing, the Council for Development and Reconstruction, and concerned Governors and Municipalities. Added to that, other institutions such as the "Conseil ExÈcutif des Grands Projets" and the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon.

In the area of marine environmental protection, both from land-based activities and from sea-based activities, the responsible authorities are the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Public Health and the Marine Centre for Scientific Research.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment and the Marine Centre for Scientific Research are responsible for matters relating to the sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources (both of the high seas and under national jurisdiction).

With respect to the role of Major Groups in decision-making, oceans and seas issues are still limited to government level in the decision making process. As the municipalities were newly elected (last June 1998) in Lebanon, their involvement in the decision making process is still very limited. Non governmental organizations are involved in awareness activities while scientific institutions participate in technical consultation.

No co-ordination committee has yet been established on the national level. The National Coordinator of MEDPOL, acting through the Ministry of Environment, was supposed to create this mechanism and play the role of facilitator among the responsible institutions and organizations, especially in the field of marine environment protection from land-based activities. However, this co-ordination was not achieved due to the lack of appropriate human resources capable to follow-up this matter.

On the other hand, the Code of Environment, which is currently in the Parliament for adoption, is establishing the basis for a Higher Council of Environment. This Council will be mandate to ensure facilitating co-ordination among all public, private, scientific and non-governmental bodies.

There is no specific national strategy or policy in this area. However, the following programmes and policies are relevant:

With respect to integrated coastal zone management and sustainable development:

The Biodiversity Enabling Activity Programme, implemented at Ministry of Environment, developed a national strategy to conserve, study and sustainably use the biological diversity. The strategy that was achieved in November 1998 includes a chapter on the conservation of marine ecosystems (including marine living resources) and the protection of the Coast. Implementation has not started yet.

A programme funded by the World Bank and designed for integrated coastal zone management will be launched in 1999. The programme consists of three sub-programmes that include:

  • The formulation of national, regional and local level coastal zone management program, strategy, plan, and coastal investment strategy;
  • Legal, regulatory and institutional capacity strengthening; and
  • Training in advanced integrated coastal zone management planning and management, and
  • Environmental Impact Assessment techniques related to the coastal zone.

With respect to marine environmental protection

Lebanon is a party to the Barcelona Convention and its five protocols. The Convention includes an action plan and guidelines for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Sustainable Development of the Coastal Areas of the Mediterranean, to be adopted on the national level. However, this action plan, which was conducted within the MEDPOL - Phase III activities, was prepared but never implemented, nor was there any follow-up.

The Ministry of Environment also conducted a national plan for industrial waste management (1996- 1997). Implementation of this plan is expected to start soon.

With respect to the sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources (both of the high seas and under national jurisdiction).

The Biodiversity Enabling Activity Programme developed a strategy that includes a chapter on the conservation of marine ecosystems (including marine living resources) and the protection of the Coast. Implementation has not started yet.

An action plan was set for the conservation of Palm Islands marine resources in the context of the GEF Project on Protected Areas. Also, the Regional Programme for the Conservation of Wetlands in the Mediterranean will be implemented in two Lebanese areas: Aammiq Swamp and Tyre Beach, where terrestrial, marshal and marine resources will be conserved and protected. The Programme will start acting mid 1999.

Considerable legislation applies to the three issues areas covered in this programme area. These are discussed, below.

With respect to integrated coastal zone management and sustainable development:

Lebanon already has a wide range of sector-specific environmental laws and regulations, some dating back to the 1930s, and which require a lot of updating and integration within a well-articulated environmental policy framework. Generally speaking, these laws and regulations deal indirectly with coastal zone management. After the war, specific Decrees and Decisions were formulated to alleviate the impact of negative activities on the coast (solid waste, industrial regulations, health, etc.), but this was not considered to sufficient due to poor implementation.

Some of these coastal zone related laws and decrees are:

  • Decree No 4809, 24/6/1966: Coastal zoning (including zoning maps scale 1/20.000; 1 to 11);
  • Decree No 3362, 26/5/1972: Coastal Code of Northern Lebanon Coast (including zoning maps scale 1/20.000 and 1/5.000; 1 to 23);
  • Decree No 5450, 17/4/1973: Zoning of Code of Southern Lebanon Coast (including zoning maps scale 1/5.000; 1 to 32);
  • Decree No 4811, 24/6/1966; amended by Decree 4918, 2/3/82 (Beirut, zone 10: Zoning regulations of the Corniche area extending from the Bain Militaire to Raoucheh;
  • Decree No 1915, 14/9/1971 (master plan of Tripoli el Mina);
  • Decree law No 144/S, 10/6/1925 (Definition of the maritime public domain);
  • Decree No 4810, 24/6/1966 (Conditional use of the maritime public domain by abutting properties);
  • Decree No 7482, 23/8/1995 (Approval of the master plan of Sidonís seaport extension);
  • Decree No 8304, 19/4/1996 (Conditional use of 8.300 m2 at Batroun, for a recreational touristic development including sports and swimming facilities);
  • Council of Ministersí Decision, 13/4/1983 (Establishment of six public beaches).

It is worth noting that the Code of the Environment, which is currently under discussion in the Parliament, includes the guidelines for a sustainable coastal zone management as well as the concept of all ratified conventions, international laws and standards.

With respect to marine environmental protection:

General laws were promulgated to control various types of pollution and which are applied on both coastal and inland areas. Unfortunately, these laws are still not enforced neither implemented. Examples on these laws are:

  • The Law No 974 executed by Decree No 8735, 23/8/1974 (protection of the environment from pollution caused by solid and liquid waste, especially from sewage and septic tanks. This Law obliges industrial establishments to purify their water before disposing of it;
  • The Law No 64, 12/8/1988 (making pollution by dangerous substances a crime punishable by hard labour, or even the death. This type of pollution includes changes in the environment, damage to man, flora, fauna, water and air. The dangerous substances are listed in a decree, which is an appendix to the law.
  • Decree No 10659, 21/9/1970 and Law No 1178, 24/4/1978 and Council of Ministersí Order No 71, 1983 (pollution by chemical products e.g. insecticides, fungicides, chemical fertilisers, etc.)
  • In 1996, a decision issued by the Ministry of Environment promulgated standards for water, air and soil pollution (14 environmental media and parameters e.g. drinking water, bathing waters, wastewater, air emissions, etc.). However this decision was not effectively implemented neither enforced.
  • Lebanon is a signatory to MARPOL I and II whereas all signatory countries are required to provide reception facilities for Annex I wastes (ballast water). However, Lebanon has not equipped yet any of its ports with the necessary reception facilities. For that purpose, policy and studies on discharges of ballast from shipping and oil spills are launched, in close collaboration between Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Petroleum and the National Marine Research Centre. Results are still in their primary phases.
  • Also, the Code of Environment includes a chapter on marine environmental protection. Certain of the suggestions included are currently ready to be declared as legislation.

With respect to sustainable use and conservation of marine living:

The conservation of marine living resources laws are mainly restricted to fishing regulations in the Lebanese Law, the marine flora being hardly mentioned. Some of these fishing laws are:

  • The Law published by statutory order No 1104, 14/11/1921, modified by Council of Ministersí Decision No 138, 16/9/1983, which forbids fishing in ports, the use of products that anaesthetise or poison fish or pollute the water, and the use of explosives in fishing. It also forbids factories to let their waste flow into the sea.
  • The Law No 1/84, 13/6/1984 and Law No 14/50, 20/8/1990, which regulated sponge fishing. Statutory Order No 63/11, 16/3/1993 forbade sponge fishing for five years.
  • Statutory Order No 95, 9/5/1939 and the Law dated 19/11/1947, modified by Law No 1490, 20/8/1990 and by Decree No 11882, 3/6/1948, regulated river and freshwater fishing.

In case of the decision made by the Ministry of Environment (Decision 52/1) regarding standards on water, air and soil, implementation by industries remains voluntary.

Status

Lebanonís coast is about 250 km long. Urban areas stretch over 50 km of the coastline (21%), while beaches and dunes cover a total length of about 49 km (20%) and bare rocky outcrops about 11% (4.7%). Fruit trees on wet soil (primarily citrus groves) border the coastline over 34 km. In addition, large industrial or commercial units occupy about 24 km (10%), tourism resorts about 18 km (7.5%) and ports about 13 km (5.3%). Salines border the coastline over a stretch of 6.7 km.

On the other hand, coastal central Lebanon comprises 63% of the population of the coastal zone, North Lebanon 23% and the South of Lebanon 14%.

The percentage of the economy contributed by fishing and methods in place to encourage sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources.

Fishing statistics are rare. While there are an estimated 4,000 fishermen and crew, not all fishermen are Lebanese and not all rely exclusively on fishing as a source of income. Estimates on fish catches from the sea range from 3,000 to 6,000 tons per year. Fish catches from rivers are about 50 tons per year (activity weakly developed, since it is considered as a sport activity). Six hundred to seven hundred tons are produced yearly by aqua farming. In 1997/1998, fish import was around 6000 tons per year, equivalent to 30 million dollars per year.

Fishing in Lebanon is entirely artisanal or traditional. Dragnet, trawl line and fishing lamps are the main fishing equipment used, even though law prohibits trawl line. The Lebanese fisheries have suffered considerably during the war. Explosives and toxic bait (lindane) were considerably used. Analysis of the population dynamics of pelagic and semi-pelagic fish has shown high death rates and very low average weights due to over-exploitation. Until now, no direct methods adopted by the Government were put in place to conserve marine living resources, however, since the end of the war, the use of explosives has diminished dramatically due to the Lebanese Armyís control. In addition, fishermen in the South cannot venture out at the sea for security reasons, a matter that helped indirectly in replenishing fishing stocks.

The impact of shipping on the sustainable management of coastal zones: The movement of oil tankers along the Lebanese Coast as well as docking, unloading and storage represent a potential oil spill hazard, with serious impact on marine and coastal ecosystems. As a party to the Mediterranean Action Plan, Lebanon has obligations to prepare emergency response to accidental spills at sea. But until now, oil spills response facilities do not exist in the Country. Fortunately, no major negative impact occurred apart from some very minor oil spills on the coast coming from the high number of petroleum shipping.

The impact of other coastal- and marine-based industries (including tourism) on sustainable development of coastal areas: Industries are considered as the major source of sea pollution in Lebanon. During the war, some industries were established without any permit, others obtained permits to locate in non-industrial areas. Around 20.000 units are located in the coastal zone. The scattered distribution of a large number of industries (cement, electroplating, fertilizers, food processing, tanneries, textiles, etc.) all over the coast resulted in coastal degradation in land use, water, soil and air.

On the other hand, the increase in tourism settlements has led to the privatization of public domains and huge constructions are built all along the shore.

The primary sources of land-based pollution of the marine environment may be summarized as follows:

  • Industrial plants (tannery, steel, cement, fertilizers, food processing, etc.);
  • Tourism settlements;
  • Agricultural effluents;
  • Municipal waste sewage.

The primary source of sea-based pollution of the marine environment is oil shipping (very limited).

Other relevant issues include:

  • The presence of uncontrolled waste dumping sites led to negative impacts on the coastal area, and
  • Sediment extraction on beaches for the supply of sand to the construction industry that used to be widespread.

Some of the major programmes that have been developed to deal with these and other issues include:

A programme for the protection of marine water from land-based sources is currently under way to be formulated within the framework of activities of the REMPEC/ MAP.

The Integrated Coastal Zone Management Programme will be launched in 1999 in the Council for Development and Reconstruction.

The Regional Programme for the Conservation of Wetlands in the Mediterranean will be launched soon in Lebanon. Activities include the protection of marine living resources in Tyre Beach (reserve declared by law) mainly from land-based sources.

A Coastal Area Management Programme (CAMP) will be initiated in May 1999 in the context of the Mediterranean Action Plan activities. A feasibility study is under preparation to explore local CAMP implementation in the area between Khaldeh and Tyre.

The rehabilitation of sewage collection and disposal has established nine wastewater treatment plants all over the coast (total cost is about 405 million dollars).

A National Plan for Industrial Waste Management will be implemented soon.

Sanitary landfills have been adopted to replace open waste dumpsites.

A series of decrees are under preparation, such as the environmental impact assessment decree, land-use planning, etc.

Finally, the Tourism Plan for Development and Reconstruction (1996) prepared by UNDP and The World Tourism Organisation addressed the Coastal zone management. It recommended the coastal freezing development for one or two years until a coastal master plan is established. This plan shall identify the following features and action areas:

  • Urban poles for tourist access and service;
  • Tourist sites of main and secondary importance;
  • Sites needing short and medium-term tourism master plan.

Capacity-building, education, training and awareness-raising

In 1998, a guideline decision was designed by the Ministry of Environment to assist industries in combating pollution especially liquid effluents that goes into the sea (mainly cement and fertiliser factories). Implementation of this guideline-decision is improving.

In 1998, the Ministry of Environment, environmental NGOs, schools and universities conducted The Big Blue Campaign. This Campaign is conducted every year to raise awareness for the safeguard of the Mediterranean Sea in general, and the Lebanese Coast in specific. Other minor campaigns were conducted in parallel by scouts, Red Cross and concerned NGOs.

SOS Environment (a local NGO) conducted an environmental educational training course called "Blue School", which focused on the importance of conserving marine living resources. This course was done in collaboration with the World-Wide Fund- Italy.

Greenpeace conducted water analysis for industrial pollution all along the coast.

Constraints

Priority constraints include:

  • Lack of national planning authority: The Ex-Ministry of Planning, created in 1950ís, was not able to prepare a national land use plan due to political difficulties. In 1977, the Council for Development and Reconstruction replaced the Ministry of Planning, with duties not widened enough to include land use and planning functions.
  • The overlapping and uncoordinated environmental management responsibilities: The overlapping in institutional responsibilities for environmental management contributes to poor implementation; added to that the clear institutional gap in environmental management co-ordination.
  • The severe lack of enforcement of environmental regulations: Deficient enforcement is not always due to lack of clarity and internal inconsistencies in legal and regulatory texts, but it also results from institutional weaknesses, such as resting most if not all enforcement powers with the Ministry of Interior. As a result, line ministries lack the means to enforce the legal requirements falling under their jurisdiction.
  • Failure to establish environmental impact assessment decrees and procedures: With the absence of national EIA requirements, only projects financed by international donors appear to be subject to an EIA. Government and public institutionsí staff are not familiar with these procedures and do not have sufficient capacity to monitor implementation of mitigation measures.
  • The shortage in staff involved in this matter (especially on the institutional level) for implementation and follow-up: Public institutions and research institutes are understaffed and poorly equipped. Rather than calling on them to support policy development and implementation, it is often relied on private consulting firms.
  • Outdated and inconsistent environmental laws and regulations, with it required modernizing them and establishing implementation tools.
  • Shortage in financial resources;
  • Lack in technical support and training.

Information

The following national information is available to assist both decision-makers and planners working in coastal areas:

Sustainable Management of Fishery Resources

  • The available information regarding the fishery sector in general could be obtained from the http://www.agriculture.gov.lb. Ministry of Agriculture website.

Marine Pollution

  • Information provided by the National Centre for Marine Research and to a lesser extent from the Ministry of Environment.

Mineral resources

  • Not available

Living Resources Other Than Fish

  • The biological diversity report (prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture), which includes data about terrestrial fauna and flora; marine and coastal flora and fauna; aquatic fauna and flora; agricultural and livestock habitats and nature reserves; socio-economic factors affecting the biodiversity. The complete report is available on the Ministry of Agriculture website mentioned above.

Critical Uncertainties

Monitoring systems are not in place yet.

Geographic Information Systems have been used in various coastal management projects, including:

  • The regional environmentally assessment report on the Coastal zone of Lebanon produced GIS ARC/INFO land use maps, based on the CORINE nomenclature.
  • The Protected Areas GEF programme is currently producing land use maps for the natural reserves of Barouk Cedars, Horsh Ehden and the Palm Islands reserve.
  • The Remote Sensing Centre, affiliated to the National Centre for Scientific Research produced several types of GIS maps concerned with water pollution, green cover, etc.
  • Private consulting firms used GIS for studies on coastal land use and industrial distribution.

Information is available through a http://www.sdnp.org.lb Web Site developed by the Ministry of Environment, through the Sustainable Development Networking Programme.

The http://www.cnrs.edu.lb National Centre for Scientific Research is conducting a programme for Coastal Zone Marine Management that aims to develop an ocean data and fleet operations management systems. The National Centre for Scientific Research.

Other information can be available from the following addresses:

The Ministry of Environment will launch the Lebanese Environment Development Observatory (LEDO) that will aim to fill the gaps in key environmental data (e.g. air and water pollution levels, industrial wastewater, etc.) and calculate the cost of environmental degradation. LEDO will act as a catalyst for the collection of data, and work with other ministries, agencies and academic institutions to agree on a limited number of environmental and development indicators of relevant importance to rivers and seas in Lebanon. The Observatory will start acting end of March 1999.

Financing and Co-operation

This programme area is financed by the following:

  • National budget of concerned ministries.
  • The National Centre for Marine Researchí budget allocated from the National Centre for Scientific Research; however this budget is very limited and insufficient.
  • External assistance (World Bank, Japanese loans, European Investment Bank, etc.) channelled through the Council for Development and Reconstruction which mandate is to co-ordinate and supervise projects and financing.
  • GEF Project on Protected Areas.
  • FFEM Project for the management of wetlands in the Mediterranean.

Lebanon is a Party to the following Agreements:

  • Barcelona Convention plus five protocols;
  • United Nations Framework on Biological Diversity;
  • The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially Waterfowl Habitat;
  • The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea;
  • The MARPOL Convention, Annex I and II;
  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change;
  • The Paris Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
  • BASEL Convention.
  • MEDPOL activities in the framework of the Mediterranean Action Plan (land based activities);
  • Convention on Biodiversity

 

This information was provided by the Government of Lebanon to the seventh session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: April 1999.

(top)