Everyone of us has a way of preserving cherished memories. For
you, it is probably a photo album where tender intimate
moments are dearly kept, for others it is a small secret
musical box in a dark corner of the attic. Some simply store
them in their heart and close their eyes to remember the
intensity of those moments.
Protected Areas are our threatened national living museums
reminding us of Earth's bounty and beauty. They represent
invaluable scientific treasure and economic security. Above
all, they are a share of a heritage we ought to keep for
future generations to enjoy.
The uniqueness of Lebanon lies in its endowment with the
wealthy biodiversity of those protected areas. This inherent
asset attracts nature-lovers around the world, thereby
promoting the flourishing of a new form of tourism in the
country – ecotourism.
Natural beauty is not formed overnight. When it might take
decades of interaction between different environmental
players, to build the beauty of a landscape, and one hand to
easily destroy it, it requires collaborative effort to
conserve and maintain the sustainability and integrity of
these natural resources.
For the sake of passing on relics of our threatened patrimony
to future generations, let's act before our Protected Areas
turn into static photo albums on dusty library shelves.
Berj Hatjian Ph.D.
Ministry of Environment