Ksarnaba and Maqne now have more green zones. These newly established green zones came as a part of “Smart Adaptation of Forest Landscape and Mountain Area” (SALMA) project, implemented by The Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST) in partnership with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the local municipalities of Ksarnaba and Maqne.
12,500 trees were planted over an area of 25 Hectares in Ksarnaba. In Maqne, an area of 10 hectares was planted with 5,000 trees. 39 water tankers were delivered to Maqne site to water the trees as this village lacks water. Several types of trees were planted in both areas including Pine, Wild Pear, Prunus Ursina, and Prunus Amygdalus. During the project’s period, lasting from the 10th of December 2017 till the end of May 2018, the LOST monitoring team was following the project’s progress through two field officers and a consultant. The project manager always visited both sites to ensure smooth flow of work, and to expedite the work progress. After the trees were planted, the project manager and the consultant would always conduct weekly visits to check the trees’ growth status and to solve any arising problems. Additionally, the municipalities of both villages took the responsibility of taking care of these trees after the project ends.
These trees were planted to benefit another generation and to induce the “Go Green” spirit in peoples’ mentalities. In an arid area like Baalbek-Hermel, such forestation initiatives can revive the region’s natural aspect and greatly contribute to its environmental welfare.
