Reforestation grant contracts were signed July 8 by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the European Union delegation.

The grant of $2.5 million is part of the EU funded Agriculture and Rural Development Program (ARDP).

Six clusters of institutions and municipalities will benefit from the grant. They include:, Municipalities of Minjiz (North), Deir el Ahmar, Ainata, Barqa, Saghbine, Baalbeck (Beqaa), Jezzine, Aramta, Hasbaya, Kawkaba (South), Barouk, Maasser el Shouf, Mristi, Aramoun (Mount Lebanon).

Beneficiaries also include Jouzour Loubnan, Al Shouf Cedar Society, Jihad el Binaa, the Lebanese University and the University of Balamand.

The expected results of the ARDP funding are the direct planting of 124 hectares, the establishment of scientific and technical governance examples of good practices, and the fostering of stakeholders' participation. This goes in line with the MoA goal to plant 40 million trees.

The aim of the ARDP is to foster the joint participation of non-State actors and local municipalities, set “pilot” replicable examples for joint forestation/reforestation actions, and creating opportunities for improved socio-economic livelihoods.