"AL-HARKA BE AL- ALEB" Campaign
On the eve of October 2nd 2007 enormous fires awakened "Green" Lebanon invading the country’s landscape in record-breaking time, turning what has remained of Lebanon's green forests into ashes in what seemed a devastating panorama.
The treacherous fires expanded its arms to reach the forests, agricultural lands, and houses in nearly all Lebanese villages mostly in the regions of Hasbaya, Shouf, Mount Lebanon, and the North. The fires took over thousands of hectares and hundreds of thousands of trees at a stunning speed with an increasing acceleration favored by the natural circumstances that include both fast winds and the hot weather, which remain the most complimentary factors for starting fires.
These fires occur annually but are soon forgotten at the commencement of the first rainfall. However, the memory of these fires will be forever engraved in the minds of the Lebanese, especially those at risk of loosing their family members, lands, and homes in its consequence.
In response to these vast fires that have spread into forests, agricultural lands, and homes, the Association for Forests, Development and Conservation (AFDC) which has suffered losses in its MFDCL center located in the Ramlieh village, has found it essential to raise a claim to the concerned institutions not withstanding the responsibilities of the polarized political and personal interests. Furthermore, demanding them to set a clear and congregating strategy for forest fire fighting to conserve the very little that has remained of Lebanon's forests.
The Association for Forests, Development and Conservation (AFDC) has pledged to work on the reforestation of lands that were touched by the fires and put its nursery trees in Mount Lebanon and the South in duty duly for this purpose while providing the regions with adequate tools, equipment and training of the forest fire fighting volunteers. Noting that AFDC has, and since 2001, been extensively involved in the reforestation of vast areas of Lebanon's forests as well as it has developed a close relation with the governmental institutions (Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Agriculture, Civil Defense) providing at many points expertise skills and technical assistance, such as training the forest guards, the civil defense and currently working on a project for training the army pilots. In addition to those activities, AFDC has been working in close cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture on Reforestation projects as well as other projects that promote the development, conservation and raising awareness over environmental issues with the Ministry of Environment.
Since the Forest Fires broke out on October 2nd 2007, AFDC has been restlessly escorting this event with an advocacy campaign targeting the Lebanese government and the concerned institutions. In consequence the government has founded the "Inter-Ministerial Committee for Fire Management", in which AFDC has been appointed as a member on its board, responsible for preparing a recovery plan besides organizing a media campaign, in cooperation with the Ministry of environment, that includes billboards, TV and Radio exposure, and the press in addition to managing the Fund Plan that will be used in the recovery process.
Finally, AFDC will extensively employ its capabilities on all levels in order to overcome the devastating outcomes of those fires, and as such, actively prevent such future disasters that threaten Lebanon's green cover.
For your contributions please find below some useful links:
· Dedicated Bank account : 475 2103787 001LBP 475 2103787 002 USD –Byblos Bank
· Dedicated hot line : 1267
· Website and email: : www.afdc.org.lb afdc@afdc.org.lb
