Beirut: Lebanon's Ministry of Environment, in partnership with the Ministry of Information, launched the National Campaign for Forest Fire Prevention 2026 during a press conference held at the Ministry of Environment.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the event was attended by Environment Minister Dr. Tamara Al-Zein, Information Minister Dr. Paul Morcos, Agriculture Minister Dr. Nizar Hani, Director General of Civil Defense Brigadier General Imad Khreish, representative of the Defense Minister Brigadier General Pilot Hassan Barakat, Secretary-General of the National Council for Scientific Research Dr. Shadi Abdullah, Head of the Disaster Risk Management Unit Zahi Shaheen, representative of the Prime Minister's Office Amira Murad, World Bank representative Mona Kouzi, as well as representatives of official administrations, municipalities, municipal unions, partners, and the media.
The campaign comes as part of the project "Community-based Wildfire Risk Management in Lebanon's Vulnerable Landscapes," funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the World Bank. It aims to promote a culture of prevention and enhance the preparedness of local communities and authorities to reduce the risks of forest fires.
Environment Minister Dr. Tamara Al-Zein stressed in her remarks that forest protection begins well before fires erupt, through investment in prevention, sustainable forest management, strengthening the capacities of municipalities and first responders, and raising public awareness. Al-Zein noted that most fires are caused by human activities, while climate change is exacerbating the severity of this phenomenon, underscoring the need to shift from a culture of response to one focused on prevention and preparedness.
Al-Zein also highlighted the progress made under the National Project for Wildfire Risk Management, which includes training and equipping local intervention teams, as well as developing forest management plans in several areas most vulnerable to fires. She stressed that these initiatives constitute a pilot model that should be expanded and implemented across all Lebanese regions.
For his part, Information Minister Dr. Paul Morcos emphasized the media's role as a key partner in protecting the environment and promoting a culture of prevention. He noted that cooperation between the Ministries of Environment and Information reflects a shared belief in the importance of the media's role in raising public awareness and reducing the causes of forest fires. Morcos announced that the Ministry of Information will utilize its various platforms to support the campaign and disseminate awareness messages, calling on citizens to adopt responsible practices that contribute to preserving forests and Lebanon's natural resources.
Morcos further stressed that protecting forests is a shared media and national responsibility that requires concerted efforts among official institutions, local authorities, civil society, and citizens. He added that the media should remain "the clear mirror reflecting the beauty of our nature."
The press conference included a presentation by the Association for Forests, Development and Conservation, which outlined the objectives of the national campaign aimed at raising public awareness, enhancing the role of local communities in forest management and reducing fire risks, strengthening coordination between official administrations and local authorities, and establishing a scalable national model for communication and awareness across Lebanon. The presentation also addressed the campaign's target groups, which will run from August until November. It will rely on visual, audio, and digital media platforms, in addition to direct engagement with local communities, to promote a culture of prevention and enhance preparedness and readiness.
The conference concluded with an emphasis on the importance of concerted efforts among official institutions, municipalities, civil society, the media, and citizens to ensure the campaign's success, noting that prevention is the cornerstone of protecting Lebanon's forests and natural resources and enhancing the country's ability to address the risks of wildfires.