Forestation grants

Two initiatives for promoting forestation from the US and Germany

The ‘Lebanon Reforestation Initiative’ was launched, on November 25, by the US embassy.

The project is funded through an $11.9 million grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The initiative will be implemented by the US Forest Service over a four-year period.

The project aims to build the capacity of environment-related organizations to manage and expand the forests in the country. It also plans to establish a foundation to continue supporting reforestation over the longer term.

Separately, the Ministry of Agriculture and the German Agency for International Cooperation signed, on November 16, a cooperation agreement on deforestation and desertification.

Through the agreement, the German Agency will provide technical support to the ministry. It will also help it raise funds to preserve forests.