Animals Lebanon supporters from throughout the country gathered today in the Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve to take part in the planting of 1,000 trees to celebrate World Animal Day. Under the patronage of the Minister of Environment, H.E. Mr. Mohammad Rahal, the trees were planted to help restore the forests which have been lost over the years, and to highlight the dangers faced by Lebanese wildlife which would inhabit such forests.
"The International World Animal Day and the efforts of Animals Lebanon fall within the successive campaigns sponsored by the Ministry of Environment to preserve biological diversity in Lebanon," announced Minister Rahal. "The preservation of living organisms is essential to human life."
Lana El-Khalil, the President of Animals Lebanon, was appointed in 2008 as the Lebanese Ambassador to World Animal Day (WAD). World Animal Day is recognized globally every 4 October as a day for anyone in the world who cares about animals, to celebrate animal life in all its forms and our relationship to the animal kingdom.? This international day was started in 1931 as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species and later grew to encompass all kinds of animals.
"Conflict, urbanization and unregulated hunting have all contributed to our local wildlife being decimated," explained Lana. "We all need to do far more to protect our wildlife and the habitats that sustain them. Bears, hyenas and jackals should not be ending up in unregulated zoos, pet shops or personal animal collections."
The Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve is the largest protected area in Lebanon, compromising about 5% of the overall area of Lebanon. At least 32 species of mammals are found in the reserve, including badgers, hyenas and jungle cats
"Through replanting efforts and increased protection, the forests of Lebanon can flourish and once again support a diverse range of wildlife," continued Lana. "As we continue to rescue animals from substandard facilities we look forward to being able to safely reintroduce them into protected areas such as the Al Shouf Reserve."
Animals Lebanon plans to reintroduce to the reserve two porcupines that it recently rescued after they were captured from the wild and displayed in a zoo.
Mr. Khaled Sleem of AUB-Ibsar, which collaborated in the tree planting, stressed that "people depend on nature for ecological services and livelihoods, and the loss of biodiversity equates to a deterioration of the livelihoods of countless societies as well as the quality of life for everyone."
The head of the Barouk Municipality, Mr. Elie Nakhleh , joined in the tree planting, as well as President of the Beitedine Festival Nora Joumblatt and President of the Beirut Marathon Association Mrs. May El-Khalil.
"The International World Animal Day and the efforts of Animals Lebanon fall within the successive campaigns sponsored by the Ministry of Environment to preserve biological diversity in Lebanon," announced Minister Rahal. "The preservation of living organisms is essential to human life."
Lana El-Khalil, the President of Animals Lebanon, was appointed in 2008 as the Lebanese Ambassador to World Animal Day (WAD). World Animal Day is recognized globally every 4 October as a day for anyone in the world who cares about animals, to celebrate animal life in all its forms and our relationship to the animal kingdom.? This international day was started in 1931 as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species and later grew to encompass all kinds of animals.
"Conflict, urbanization and unregulated hunting have all contributed to our local wildlife being decimated," explained Lana. "We all need to do far more to protect our wildlife and the habitats that sustain them. Bears, hyenas and jackals should not be ending up in unregulated zoos, pet shops or personal animal collections."
The Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve is the largest protected area in Lebanon, compromising about 5% of the overall area of Lebanon. At least 32 species of mammals are found in the reserve, including badgers, hyenas and jungle cats
"Through replanting efforts and increased protection, the forests of Lebanon can flourish and once again support a diverse range of wildlife," continued Lana. "As we continue to rescue animals from substandard facilities we look forward to being able to safely reintroduce them into protected areas such as the Al Shouf Reserve."
Animals Lebanon plans to reintroduce to the reserve two porcupines that it recently rescued after they were captured from the wild and displayed in a zoo.
Mr. Khaled Sleem of AUB-Ibsar, which collaborated in the tree planting, stressed that "people depend on nature for ecological services and livelihoods, and the loss of biodiversity equates to a deterioration of the livelihoods of countless societies as well as the quality of life for everyone."
The head of the Barouk Municipality, Mr. Elie Nakhleh , joined in the tree planting, as well as President of the Beitedine Festival Nora Joumblatt and President of the Beirut Marathon Association Mrs. May El-Khalil.
We thank the Beirut Marathon Association for making charity involvement one of their principle themes, and look forward to having even more runners next year.
