Caretaker Minister of Agriculture, Abbas Hajj Hassan, said today on Twitter: “We followed-up on the issue of random tree logging that is taking place in the towns of Western Baalbek-Hermel (Btedi’i, Deir al-Ahmar, al-Qaddam, Nabha and Qarha)…In wake of turning into organized operations through specialized groups, we confirm that this act lays grounds for a very serious matter. Therefore, we call on the security forces and municipalities to support the forest officials in their work, especially that we are on the eve of winter, which raises fear levels that these acts will increase…The Ministry of Agriculture will begin with a set of measures that will combine the efforts of the Ministries of Environment and Interior alongside the military to find a solution to this crime.”

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon