The Lebanese Organization of Studies and Training (LOST), in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) has launched an afforestation campaign in Baalbeck-Hermel, which includes 105,000 square meters in Baalbeck, Douris, and Iaat, and 21,000 square meters in Harbata and Kfardan.
This campaign aims to preserve the ecological balance, combat desertification and pollution, aestheticize and increase green areas, as well as improve labor through the use of tree production, which will generate income. This afforestation process can help curb the problems caused due to the burning of fossil fuels, industrialization, and so forth. This will also shield crops from excessive wind and sun damage, while protecting newly established residential areas from winds, soil erosion, and floods.
Deforestation is not only an environmental catastrophe, but in an area such as Baalbeck-Hermel, it is also an economic catastrophe, an area which is highly impoverished suffers greatly from decrease of food production that increases prices. Therefore, the planting of pine trees will be of great benefit to the area.
