Lebanon

Conservation of Marine Turtles in the Mediterranean Region Phase II

Activities

• Monitoring of known nesting sites & exploration of new beaches to identify possible new nesting sites.
• Strengthen the existing national stranding network and collect stranding data.
• Assessment of the implementation of the National Action Plan for the conservation of sea turtles in Lebanon.
• Work with hoteliers and coastal businesses to ensure best practices are followed to minimise disturbance at night in Lebanon Coastal Nature Reserve of Tyre (eg. close beach at night, reduce light pollution, inform customers and collect beach furniture).
• Collaborating with private beach resorts, coastal businesses (e.g., private small beach kiosks) and local community to ensure best practices are followed to minimise disturbance (e.g. close beach at night, reduce light pollution, inform customers/ or tourists and beach furniture management) at night in all sea turtles nesting sites along the Lebanese coast, including the three Marine Protected Areas (Tyre Coast Nature Reserve-TCNR; Abbasiyeh Coast Nature Reserve-ACNR; and Palm Isalnd Nature Reserve-PINR). 
• Continuing the successful awareness campaign already launched to promote sea turtle conservation in Lebanon.
  • Summer training courses with local eco-volunteers, especially children, to convey basic information about sea turtles, strategies to promote their conservation and skills to interact effectively with tourists.

National Coordinator: Mrs Lara Samaha & Ali Badreddine

Partners: Ministry of Environment, Coastal nature reserve of Tyre