On May 14th, PAP/RAC organised a virtual meeting with Lebanese ICZM team leaders and His Excellency the Minister of Environment to discuss the progress in preparing the National Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Strategy and the draft ICZM law. This pivotal meeting also sought the Minister's assistance in obtaining essential data and support.
His Excellency expressed full support for the project, underscoring its importance. He proposed organising a ministerial meeting at the earliest opportunity, bringing together key domains relevant to managing the Lebanese coast. Following this, the Minister recommended convening with key members of parliament to discuss the project further. He also emphasised the importance of comprehensive communication efforts.
All these suggestions fit perfectly with the team’s vision and are key ingredients for the Strategy’s success: political will, governance, and the use of an integrated approach to developing the Strategy. Additionally, the Lebanese ICZM Team plans to apply a strong participatory approach, supported by Plan Bleu and PAP/RAC, when the Strategy will be discussed in upcoming workshops and roundtables, ensuring its broad acceptance and successful implementation.
The ICZM team in Lebanon is composed of two groups: an expert group assembled by the ELARD company and composed of 14 experts in 10 disciplines, led by the University of Balamand’s Institute of Environment, and a second group composed of thematically corresponding high-level government representatives working as an Inter-Ministerial ICZM Working Group. This setting provides strong optimism for the project's potential to address some of the critical issues for resilience and sustainability along the Lebanese coast.
This collaboration marks a significant step towards sustainable coastal management in Lebanon, promising a brighter future for the coastal zone of a country hit by one of the world's worst crises.
