Lebanon

National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Western AsiaApplies 2025–2030Source: National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2025

1. Overview

Lebanon's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2025 is an update prepared by the Lebanese Ministry of Environment (MoE) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), funded through the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as part of the early-action readiness initiative for the post-2020 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) adopted at COP15 in December 2022 [§21]. It is the third iteration of Lebanon's NBSAP — following the 1998 original prepared under CBD Article 6 and the 2016 update aligned to the Aichi Targets — and revises the plan to integrate the KMGBF's four 2050 goals and 23 2030 targets [§21].

The strategy is organised around 26 national commitments* numbered NT 1 through NT 26, mapped to the GBF's goal and target structure. The numbering aligns broadly to GBF Target numbers but is not one-to-one: NT 4 is absent (species recovery is folded into NT 5 on genetic diversity), and NTs 10, 11, 17, 18 and 25 are used with country-specific scope. Each commitment is operationalised through nested National Actions (NA X.Y)***Lebanon's "National Actions" (NA X.Y) are instruments nested under each national commitment.Lebanon's NBSAP uses "National Target" for its headline pledges. This page uses "national commitment" to distinguish them from the 23 GBF Targets., the country's sub-action layer.

Lebanon sits within the Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspot — third globally for plant diversity and endemism — and the NBSAP carries forward a dense legal inheritance: the Environmental Protection Law No. 444/2002, the Protected Areas Framework Law No. 130/2019 (which codifies the traditional community-governed Hima*****A Hima is a voluntary community-managed protected area on municipal land under a traditional Levantine system of natural-resource management [§53, §95]. alongside conventional protected areas), and the Forest Protection Law No. 558/1996. The strategy explicitly folds recovery from the 2024 war into restoration and pollution commitments.

Lebanon's 2025 NBSAP adopts the full GBF 30x30 coverage target, sets a lower 20% ecosystem restoration target, and commits to mobilising at least US$100 million per year against a self-costed US$60.2 million implementation envelope over 2025–2030 — while openly flagging that the National Environmental Fund, Environmental Police decree, and Biosafety Committee remain unimplemented or inactive.

Sources:

  • §21 — Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview
  • §53 — Chapter 2 > 2.1.2 National Protected Areas
  • §95 — Chapter 4 > Table 4-1 (Law 130/2019)

2. Ecological Context

Lebanon accounts for 0.007% of the world's land surface yet hosts approximately 1.11% of known plant species and 2.63% of global reptile, bird and mammal species — 9,119 known taxa (4,633 floral, 4,486 faunal) distributed across five geomorphological regions: the Coastal Zone, Mount Lebanon Range, Beqaa Plain, Anti-Lebanon Range, and South Lebanon [§49]. Terrestrial endemism reaches 8.5% (221 species) of the flora, concentrated on the high summits of Mount Makmel, Mount Sannine, Qammouha, Ehden and Mount Hermon [§50]. The Lebanon Cedar (Cedrus libani) is identified as the country's keystone and flagship species, "exploited for its wood since the rise of civilization in the Fertile Crescent and afterwards put under protection" [§50]. Forests cover 13% of the territory and Other Wooded Land a further 16.28%; coniferous species account for 32% and broadleaved for 57% of forest cover [§50].

Marine waters represent less than 1% of the global ocean surface yet contain almost 6% of its marine species, with around 3,265 species recorded including seven marine mammals and five marine herpetofauna [§51]. Freshwater biodiversity totals approximately 987 species; 5% of freshwater fauna are classified as threatened [§52].

The protected-area estate comprises 18 Nature Reserves covering about 3.7% of the territory (15 with management plans), together with 36 officially established Himas on municipal land [§53]. UNDP 2024 field surveys across the Nature Reserves documented 38 mammal species, 209 birds, 41 reptiles and amphibians, 993 insects — including the first Lebanese records of the globally Vulnerable great capricorn beetle (Cerambyx cerdo) — 193+ mushroom species, and about 794 plant species representing 27.8% of the national flora and more than half of known endemics [§53]. A previously undocumented Talpidae mammal was recorded near Karm Chbat Nature Reserve in 2024 [§53]. International designations include three UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserves (Shouf, Jabal Al Rihane, Jabal Moussa), a Ramsar estate of 1,075 ha across four sites, 16 BirdLife Important Bird Areas, 19 CEPF-confirmed Key Biodiversity Areas, and the Valley of Qannoubine and Arz El Rab Cedar Forests listed as a World Heritage Cultural Landscape [§55, §56].

Agro-biodiversity scores a moderate Agrobiodiversity Index of 54.8, reflecting "a moderate integration of agrobiodiversity into the food system" [§76]. Lebanon's total biocapacity was 1.8 million gha in 2024 against a total ecological footprint of 18.6 million gha — an ecological deficit of -950%, or 3.2 ha/capita footprint against 0.3 ha/capita biocapacity, which the NBSAP describes as "an unsustainable use of natural resources" [§57].

Pressures interact across a fragile economy and active conflict recovery. The 2024 war caused the loss of approximately 4,957 ha of forest cover — 92% in evergreen forests of Pinus brutia, P. pinea and Quercus calliprinos — degraded 13% of forests, 16% of pastures and 17% of riverine ecosystems, and was linked to over 10,800 ha of burned land, partly driven by white phosphorus munitions whose residues alter soil chemistry [§66]. The economic collapse since 2019 has pushed the national poverty rate from 12% (2012) to 44% (2022), shifted more than 50% of households to fuel wood for winter heating (up from 15% pre-crisis), and driven wood-fuel demand up 30–40% [§59, §70]. Around 1,500 quarries exploit slightly over 1,500 ha — "nearly equivalent to 75% of Beirut's area" [§67]. Lebanon hosts 272 introduced and invasive species on land and sea (GRIIS, March 2020), with Lessepsian migration through an enlarged Suez Canal a persistent marine pathway [§75].

Sources:

  • §49–§53, §55–§57 — Chapter 2 > 2.1 Status of Biodiversity; 2.2 Ecological Footprint
  • §59, §66, §67, §70, §75, §76 — Chapter 2 > 2.3 Main Threats to Biodiversity

3. National Commitments and GBF Alignment

Lebanon's 26 national commitments are organised here by theme. The full list of instruments for each sits in Section 4; per-target indicator detail sits in Section 7.

Conditions of nature — NT 1, NT 2, NT 3, NT 5

NT 1 — Spatial planning. Ensures that by 2030 at least 20% of all natural ecosystems outside Protected Areas are under participatory, integrated and biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning and/or effective management [§116]. Delivered through criteria-setting for sustainable land- and sea-use zones (NA 1.1), a Marine Spatial Plan for Lebanon (NA 1.4), and GIS/remote-sensing capacity building. Baselines are the 2012 Marine Protected Area Strategy and the National Physical Master Plan for the Lebanese Territory (SDATL). Measurable commitment.

NT 2 — Ecosystem restoration. Implements rehabilitation plans on at least 20% of degraded terrestrial, inland-water, and marine/coastal ecosystems by 2030, "including areas affected by the 2024 war" [§321]. Operationalised through a national inventory of degraded sites (NA 2.1), a master plan with separate terrestrial and marine streams (NA 2.5), and pilot rehabilitation across an unusually wide 15-ecosystem-type list including vermetid reefs, submarine canyons and seagrass meadows (NA 2.7). Tracked through FAO FERM (Headline Indicator 2.1) against a 2011–2020 baseline and the SDG 15.3.1 Degraded Land indicator. Measurable commitment — the 20% threshold sits below the GBF Target 2 headline 30%.

NT 3 — Protected areas (30x30). Commits that at least 30% of natural terrestrial, inland-water, and marine and coastal areas are conserved through protected areas and OECMs by 2030 [§329]. Delivered through standardised criteria for high-biodiversity-value area identification (NA 3.1), mapping against the 2012 MPA Strategy, the 2016 Key Biodiversity report and SDATL (NA 3.2), regulation enforcement with fine increases (NA 3.3), and updated management plans for all existing Nature Reserves with METT application (NA 3.5). Adopts the World Database on Protected Areas, ProtConn, Species Protection Index, and IUCN Green List as indicators. Measurable commitment — aligns exactly with the GBF 30x30 headline, though the current PA estate stands at 3.7%.

NT 5 — Genetic diversity. Commits that the genetic diversity of 40% of native fauna and flora is conserved in-situ and ex-situ by 2030, with national conservation strategies for at least 100 native species of high conservation value (prioritising endemics) and monetary valuations for at least 30 species [§351]. Tracked via the Red List Index, FAO SDG-aligned breed indicators, and Headline Indicator A.4 on populations with an effective size greater than 500. Measurable commitment. (Lebanon's NT numbering omits NT 4; species recovery is folded into NT 5.)

Pressures — NT 6, NT 7, NT 8, NT 9

NT 6 — Sustainable use of wild species. Ensures that use, harvesting and trade of wild species are sustainable, safe and legal, "reducing the risk of pathogen spillover by applying the ecosystem approach, while respecting customary sustainable use by indigenous peoples and local communities" [§353]. Delivered through fisheries guidelines (NA 6.3), capacity-building for forest guards, PA rangers, customs, border security and municipal police on CITES and IUCN-listed species (NA 6.4), and MoA-endorsed sustainable-harvesting protocols for endemic species under overexploitation (NA 6.5). Directional aspiration.

NT 7 — Invasive alien species. Commits that "effective measures are in place to limit the introduction and diffusion of Invasive Alien Species" by 2030 [§362]. A live IAS register (NA 7.1), awareness campaigns (NA 7.2), and quarantine/customs support covering crops, landscaping, aquaculture, domesticated animals and the aquarium trade (NA 7.3) are the delivery mechanisms. Tracked via Headline Indicator 6.1 (rate of IAS establishment, calculated from GBIF). Directional aspiration — the target sets a binary "measures in place" threshold rather than a quantitative reduction.

NT 8 — Pollution. Reduces pollution and its negative impacts to non-harmful levels by 2030, covering nutrient loss, pesticides and highly hazardous chemicals, and plastic pollution [§366]. Delivered through national nutrient and pesticide strategies (NA 8.2, NA 8.3), monthly monitoring of pollutants in high-conservation-value ecosystems (NA 8.4), pesticide bans (NA 8.7), marine-litter source mapping (NA 8.10), and a dedicated assessment of phosphorus impacts from the 2024 war. Adopts Headline Indicator 7.2 (Aggregated Total Applied Toxicity) and the FAO Cropland Nutrient Budget. Directional aspiration — no numeric threshold for pollution reduction.

NT 9 — Climate and biodiversity. Identifies climate-vulnerable ecosystems and minimises climate impacts on biodiversity through mitigation, adaptation and disaster-risk-reduction actions, including nature-based solutions [§169–§172]. Commitments include vulnerability assessments for terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems, species distribution models under future climate scenarios for at least 50 native species, adaptation plans for at least five vulnerable ecosystems, and a relative sea level rise prediction model. Tracked through an adapted Headline Indicator 8.b. Directional aspiration.

Tools and solutions — NT 11, NT 12, NT 13, NT 14, NT 15

NT 11 — Sustainable production systems. Mainstreams locally released cultivars and native rootstocks, organic farming, agroecology, agroforestry, conservation agriculture, treated-wastewater reuse, rainfed crops, and sustainable fisheries and aquaculture using native, naturalised and acclimatised species [§177–§181]. Tracked through Headline Indicator 10.1 and the Agrobiodiversity Index (see Section 2). Directional aspiration.

NT 12 — Nature's contributions to people. Restores, maintains and enhances ecosystem services including air, water and climate regulation, soil health, pollination, disease-risk reduction and natural-hazard protection through nature-based solutions [§412]. Delivered through ecosystem-function assessments in representative protected areas across at least three ecosystem types (NA 12.1), NbS pilots including artificial reefs and restored corridors (NA 12.2), and agrobiodiversity mainstreaming across at least 50 hectares (NA 12.3). Adopts the SEEA accounting framework (Headline Indicator B.1). Directional aspiration.

NT 13 — Urban green and blue spaces. Conserves the area, quality, connectivity and accessibility of urban green and blue spaces through biodiversity-inclusive urban planning that requires native species in green rooftops, vertical rooftops, raised beds and green walls [§417]. Led by the Directorate General of Urban Planning (DGUP) — unusual in this NBSAP, where MoE leads almost everywhere else. Directional aspiration.

NT 14 — Traditional knowledge. Collects, evaluates, documents, preserves and shares traditional knowledge of local communities on the basis of free, prior and informed consent [§425]. Delivered through surveys (NA 14.1), integration into education and community events (NA 14.2), and revival of the Clearing-House Mechanism (NA 14.4). Directional aspiration.

NT 15 — ABS and DSI. Reviews, updates and reinforces legal, policy, administrative and capacity-building measures for fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources, digital sequence information, and associated traditional knowledge, in line with applicable international instruments [§429]. Tracked via internationally recognised ABS Clearing-House certificates, ITPGRFA Multilateral System transfers (LARI, baseline December 2022), and Headline Indicators C.1 and C.2. Directional aspiration.

Implementation — NT 16, NT 17, NT 18, NT 19, NT 20, NT 21, NT 22, NT 23, NT 24, NT 25, NT 26

NT 16 — Mainstreaming. Government entities mainstream biodiversity priorities into policy-making by 2030 [§436]. Delivered through a dedicated Strategic Environmental Assessment unit at MoE, at least 10 SEA training sessions per year on Decree 8213/2012, at least 5 sector-specific ecological-impact-assessment sessions per year, and integration across at least 7 key sectors. Measurable commitment (see delivery-capacity section for quantified training).

NT 17 — Corporate biodiversity disclosure. By 2030, 75% of large businesses (over 250 employees) regularly implement biodiversity impact assessments and publicly disclose results, demonstrating a 30% reduction in negative impacts and a 20% increase in positive impacts against 2020–2026 baselines [§451–§453]. Uses the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework, a public CSR registry, a standardised impact-assessment tool, and an annual "Biodiversity Leaders" top-20 recognition programme. Measurable commitment — but see Information gaps below on baseline availability.

NT 18 — Sustainable production plans. At least 40% of large enterprises and 20% of medium enterprises (50–249 employees) have sustainable production plans across industrial, agriculture, energy and tourism sectors by 2030 [§454]. Measurable commitment.

NT 19 — Sustainable consumption. Reduces Lebanon's national consumption footprint equitably by reducing overconsumption, waste generation and food waste [§461]. Includes a consumer-facing QR-code life-cycle tool (NA 19.1) and replicates the SDG Food Waste Index, Material Footprint per Capita and Recycling Rate indicators. Directional aspiration.

NT 20 — Biosafety. Operationalises the Cartagena Protocol implementation mechanism by 2030 through issuance of implementation mechanisms (NA 20.1), LMO risk assessment (NA 20.2), customs controls (NA 20.4), seed-bank support (NA 20.5), and mandatory use of local/native species as a minimum in government-funded projects (NA 20.6) [§218–§224]. Directional aspiration (binary operationalisation).

NT 21 — Incentives and subsidies. Identifies and phases out harmful incentives and scales up positive incentives by 2030 [§472]. Policy levers include fee increases for construction permits near ecologically sensitive areas (NA 21.3), organic-agriculture subsidies (NA 21.8), increased fines for forest violations and illegal logging (NA 21.9), and explicit inclusion of fossil-fuel and fisheries subsidies in the harmful-subsidies scope. Directional aspiration.

NT 22 — Resources and funding. Mobilises at least US$100 million per year from domestic, international, public and private sources by 2030 [§488]. See Section 6 for full treatment. Measurable commitment.

NT 23 — Capacity-building. Strengthens capacity-building and joint scientific research through ring-fenced ministerial biodiversity capacity budgets, CHM revival, and a private-sector/research-centre spin-off incubation programme [§503]. Directional aspiration.

NT 24 — Data availability. Ensures the best available data, information and knowledge are accessible to decision-makers, practitioners and the public [§509]. Each National Action (NA 24.1–24.6) is individually costed — totalling US$1.3 million for the surveys, awareness unit, curriculum integration, participatory events, school clubs, and NGO capacity programme. Directional aspiration.

NT 25 — Inclusive participation. Ensures full, equitable, inclusive, effective and gender-responsive participation by local communities, women and girls, children and youth, and persons with disabilities, and the full protection of environmental human rights defenders (NA 25.1) [§519 adj.]. Each NA individually budgeted. Directional aspiration.

NT 26 — Gender equity. Ensures gender equity in NBSAP implementation through a gender-responsive approach [§519]. Delivered by integrating biodiversity into national gender strategies (NA 26.1), cooperative support for women-led biodiversity activities (NA 26.2), and a baseline gender contextual analysis for the biodiversity sector (NA 26.3). Directional aspiration.

The NBSAP positions the set as requiring "ongoing commitment, adaptability to changing circumstances, and a flexible planning approach" [§115].

Sources:

  • §115, §116, §321, §329, §351, §353, §362, §366 — Chapter 5.2 > NT 1–NT 8
  • §412, §417, §425, §429, §436, §451–§454, §461, §472, §488, §503, §509, §519 — Chapter 5.2 > NT 12–NT 26
  • §128, §134, §169–§172, §177–§181, §218–§224 — Chapter 5.2 National Actions

4. Delivery Architecture

Governance. The operationalisation plan begins with Council of Ministers (CoM) adoption through a formal Decision [§259]. A National Coordination Entity — potentially an expanded Steering Committee — is proposed to lead coordination and monitoring, with an Operational Unit as its Secretariat "if conditions permit at political, institutional, administrative and economic levels" [§260]. The Ministry of Environment (with co-leads across MoA, CDR, MoPWT/DGUP, CNRS, CAS, LARI, MoF, MoIM, MoET, MoEW, MoPH, MoC, MEHE/CERD, MoJ, MoT, MoL, MoSA, MoD and the Lebanese Army, NCLW, the Order of Engineers, and municipalities) is the lead responsible agency across most indicators [§295 et al.]. The National Council for Environment (Decree 8157/2012) is retained as an advisory board, with NA 16.14 tracking the share of its meetings covering biodiversity [§447].

Lessons from the 2016 cycle explicitly shape the architecture: (1) integrate biodiversity across sectors; (2) establish a National Coordination Entity; (3) develop an organised programme for initiatives; (4) form an Operational Unit as Secretariat; and (5) build partnerships and enhance capacities [§89].

Framework environmental legislation. The Environmental Protection Law No. 444/2002 anchors the portfolio, with the Polluter-Payer Principle (Article 4), economic and financial instruments (Article 20), the National Environmental Fund (Article 8), EIA (Decree 8633/2012), SEA (Decree 8213/2012), environmental economic incentives (Decree 167/2017), the Environmental Public Prosecution Unit (Law 251/2014), the Environmental Police (Decree 3989/2016, not yet operationally designated), and the Lebanese National Environmental Council (Decree 8157/2012) [§94, §96, §111, §112].

Conservation and protected areas. The Protected Areas Framework Law No. 130/2019 defines four PA categories — Nature Reserve, Natural Park, Natural Site and Monument, and Hima [§95]. The 1949 Forest Code, the Forest Protection Law No. 558/1996 classifying all coniferous forests as "Protected Forests", and Law 326/2001 on reforestation and land rehabilitation underpin the forest estate [§93, §94]. Flagship restoration programmes include the National Afforestation and Reforestation Program (NARP, 2014–2028), also known as the 40 million trees programme, targeting 20% forest cover; the Lebanon National Forest Plan (2015–2025); and the Updated National Strategy for Forest Fire Prevention and Control (CoM Decision 45/2023) [§101, §102]. Draft Master Plans for High Mountain Areas cover land above 1,500 m and two pilot districts (Jbeil and Akkar above 800 m) [§103].

Marine and coastal. The 1952 Fishing Law (updated draft before CoM), the Lebanon Marine Protected Areas Strategy (2012), the National Monitoring Program for Marine Biodiversity (2018) with SPA/RAC, the National Action Plan on marine species introductions and invasive species (2018), the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Turtles (2020–2025), a National Action Plan for Coralligenous Assemblages (2020), a draft Monk Seal plan, and species-specific MoA decisions on turtles, marine mammals, cetaceans, sharks and shark-finning (including a 500 m inland / 2 km seawards river-estuary protection zone under MoA Decision 385/1 of 1997) populate the marine portfolio [§98, §102, §104, §105, §109]. An updated Integrated Coastal Zone Management law and strategy is under preparation [§110].

Species and genetic resources. The Wild Hunting Law No. 580/2004 protects all wild birds except approved game species; MoE Decision 798/1 (2018) prohibits year-round hunting of wolves, hyenas and foxes [§100]. MoA Decision 108/1 (1995) bans imports of cedar seeds, seedlings and plants to preserve Cedrus libani [§97]. The National Strategy for Conservation and Management of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture 2015–2035 is implemented by LARI under MoA Decision 269/1 (2025) [§99, §102]. A draft national law on access to biological and genetic resources and benefit-sharing, prepared under the Nagoya Protocol, is before CoM [§110].

Biosafety, pollution and climate. Law 31/2008 ratifies the Cartagena Protocol; Law 778/2006 sets plant quarantine and phytosanitary measures; the draft national biosafety decree (CoM Decision 53/2014) has not yet been issued [§94, §112]. Law 80/2018 on Integrated Solid Waste Management, Decree 5/2024 endorsing the Updated National Integrated Solid Waste Management Strategy, Law 78/2018 on Air Quality Protection, and the National Strategy for Managing Ambient Air Quality 2015–2030 address pollution [§95, §97, §107]. Climate architecture rests on Law 115/2019, the 2020 NDC, the 4th National Communication (2022), and the National Renewable Energy Action Plan 2021–2025 [§102, §107].

Ratified international anchors. The CBD (Law 360/1994), UNFCCC, UNCCD, Ramsar, AEWA, ITPGRFA, ACCOBAMS, Cartagena Protocol, CITES, Nagoya Protocol, Kigali Amendment, Paris Agreement, Barcelona Convention (with seven ratified protocols including SPA/BD and ICZM), and CMS [§102].

Sources:

  • §89, §94–§102, §104, §105, §107, §109, §110 — Chapter 4 > Tables 4-1, 4-2, 4-3
  • §111, §112 — Chapter 4.2 Recommendations for Policy Coherence
  • §259, §260, §295, §447 — Chapter 6.2 Roles and Responsibilities

4a. Rebuilding after the 2024 war

War-recovery is threaded as a cross-cutting planning premise. Damage statistics are set out in Section 2 above — 4,957 ha of forest loss (92% in Pinus brutia, P. pinea and Quercus calliprinos woodlands), 13% of forests, 16% of pastures and 17% of riverine ecosystems degraded, over 10,800 ha of burned land, and white-phosphorus residues altering soil chemistry [§66].

Three commitments fold recovery into their scope:

  • NT 2 (Ecosystem restoration) writes war-affected areas into the 20% rehabilitation target. NA 2.1 mandates a national inventory of degraded sites "including areas affected by the 2024 war", with 2024 as the baseline year [§128].
  • NT 8 (Pollution) includes a dedicated assessment of pollution impacts "(emphasis on phosphorus)" on ecosystems and agricultural areas affected by the war, with 2024 as a one-off baseline assessment [§168].
  • Delivery context. The economic crisis since end-2019 and the compounding impact of regional tensions are flagged as structural limits on financial and human resources for biodiversity initiatives, with the MoE budget noted as lower than other ministries [§254, §276].

The Ministry of Environment, CDR, CNRS and academic institutions share responsibility for the inventory and assessment. The NBSAP does not publish the list of 18 pilot-rehabilitation sites under NA 2.7; only the 15 ecosystem types are enumerated [§134].

Sources:

  • §66, §128, §134, §168, §254, §276 — Chapter 2, Chapter 5.2, Chapter 6

5. Monitoring and Accountability

Delivery is tracked through the National Biodiversity Monitoring Action Plan (Appendix C), structured across 26 national commitments with columns for Responsible Agency, Development Status, Frequency, Baseline, Cost/Funding, Capacity Development Needs, and Data/Source [§295]. The plan follows UNEP-WCMC Guidance for developing plans for national monitoring systems and the Global Biodiversity Monitoring Framework adopted at COP15 via Decision 15/5 [§249]. Indicators are typed as Headline, Component, Complementary, and National/Subnational [§252], and are disaggregated where relevant by Global Ecosystem Typology levels 2 and 3, realm, biome, Indigenous and traditional territories, PAs and OECMs, IUCN threat drivers, governance type, PAME-assessed effectiveness, and migratory species [§296]. The reference baseline period is 2011–2020 [§254].

Nine setup principles govern the system: designate a coordinating government entity (default MoE, with a possible specialised supporting institution analogous to EBI, Conabio, SANBI or EEA); secure budget; establish a clearance mechanism for data and assessments (especially for the 7th National Report); convene a consultative group of lead agencies; prepare a communication plan; set baselines per indicator; build on the 5th and 6th National Reports; conduct a capacity assessment; and launch and communicate the system [§254]. Five GBF Targets are flagged as resource-intensive to monitor: Target 1 (IUCN Red List of Ecosystems), Target 4 (Red List methodology), Target 7 (Pollution), Target 11 (ecosystem services per Headline Indicator B.1), and Target 18 (harmful and positive incentives, with possible OECD support) [§253].

Reporting cycle. Upcoming National Reports are due February 2026 and June 2029 [§253]. Reporting frequencies across the indicator set run annual (METT, enforcement, pesticide bans, NCE meetings, biodiversity finance, training sessions); every two years (IAS establishment, bathymetry, urban plans, harvesting assessments); every three years (national inventory updates, restoration area, Agrobiodiversity Index, ecosystem-services assessments); every five years (PA/OECM mapping, MSP revisits, sea-level-rise model, Sustainable Forest Management, Nature Reserve entrance-fee analysis, traditional knowledge, hatcheries); and every 5–10 years (Red List of Ecosystems, extent of natural ecosystems) [§296, §298, §310, §320, §335, §382, §399, §403, §410, §452, §464].

Data providers include the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems and Species; UNEP-WCMC/WDPA/Protected Planet; FAO FAOSTAT, FERM, and SDG portals; GBIF Asia Support; UNCTAD BioTrade; Map of Life; CSIRO (PARC-Connectedness); European Commission (ProtConn); UNEP (Material Footprint); the SEEA framework; IUCN Green List; the ITPGRFA Multilateral System; the Nagoya ABS Clearing-House; the Biosafety Clearing-House; and the Lebanese University Website on Law (legallaw.ul.edu.lb) [§298, §330, §341, §354, §363, §430, §465].

Capacity development runs in five streams — Human Resources, Public Institutions Capacity Building, Capacity Building Budget Allocation, Awareness/Education/Training/PR, and Environmental Legislation and Law Enforcement [§268]. Quantified training commitments include at least 10 SEA training sessions per year on Decree 8213/2012 (NA 16.2), at least 5 sector-specific ecological-impact-assessment sessions per year (NA 16.3), training of at least 200 officers per year from internal security forces, forest guards and municipal police (NA 16.6), recruitment and training of 50 environmental police officers once the public salary scale is adjusted (NA 16.7), and capacity-building for at least 30 technicians from MoA, NGOs and municipalities on forest and rangeland management (NA 1.8) [§316, §438, §441–§443].

Gender-responsive delivery. NT 25 and NT 26 adopt a gender-responsive approach with NCLW coordination under Law 720/1998 [§279]. The NBSAP records a Female Human Development Index of 0.650 vs male 0.737 (2021), a Gender Development Index of 0.882 (rank 35), a position of 132 of 146 in the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index, and 5 of 24 ministers as women (~21%) in the February 2025 government [§278–§280]. Two 2024 stakeholder consultation workshops drew 53% and 59% women participants [§85, §88].

Flagged implementation gaps. The NBSAP states openly that the National Environmental Council does not meet regularly; the Environmental Police Decree 3989/2016 has not been implemented; the Polluter Pays Principle and the National Environmental Fund (Law 444/2002 Articles 4 and 8) have not yet been operationalised; and the National Committee on Biotechnology and Biosafety "hosted several meetings shortly after its establishment, but ceased operating afterwards" [§99, §111, §112]. Draft laws for forest, fishing, ICZM, biosafety, ABS and plant genetic resources remain pending endorsement [§103, §104, §111, §113].

Sources:

  • §85, §88, §89, §99, §103, §104, §111–§113 — Chapter 4.2, Chapter 6.2, Stakeholder Engagement
  • §249, §252–§255, §258, §268, §278–§280 — Chapter 5.3–5.8, Chapter 6.6
  • §295–§298, §310, §316, §320, §335, §382, §399, §403, §410, §430, §438, §441–§443, §447, §452, §464 — Appendix C

6. Finance and Resource Mobilisation

The NBSAP self-costs implementation at US$60.2 million between 2025 and 2030, approximately US$10 million per year, while NT 22 commits to mobilising at least US$100 million per year by 2030 from domestic, international, public and private sources [§271, §488].

Domestic public finance. The Lebanese Central Treasury is the main national source, but the government budget does not allocate a dedicated share for biodiversity; it provides general funding to the MoE and finances specific programmes case-by-case. The NBSAP states the MoE "should advocate for an increased budget allocation to partially fund NBSAP's implementation" [§272]. Article 8 of Law No. 444/2002 calls for a National Environmental Fund, which has not yet been operationalised [§111]. The Protected Areas Framework Law No. 130/2019 stipulates Nature Reserve entrance fees and ecotourism fees (with fines and confiscation revenues allocated to the reserve committee's budget), but the implementing decree setting fee amounts has not been issued [§111]. NA 22.3 proposes partially increasing the Nature Reserve entrance fee and allocating the additional revenue to the national environmental fund [§495].

International finance. The NBSAP positions itself as the main programmatic framework to attract ODA, which "is increasingly prioritizing support for overarching programs rather than fragmented projects" [§273]. Multilateral donors catalogued include GEF, the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, Green Climate Fund, World Bank, Adaptation Fund, Special Climate Change Fund, AFESD, IFAD, Europe Aid, Mediterranean Investment Facility, UNDP Small Grants Programme, PFAN, PPIAF, and GFDRR; bilateral donors include Japan, Kuwait, Italian Cooperation, AECID, JICA, SIDA, Norad, BMZ, FFEM, IDRC, PROPARCO and the Belgian Development Agency; and foundations include Finance for Biodiversity, CEPF, Heinrich Boell, Aga Khan, MAVA, MedFund, DIMFE and Citi [§273].

Innovative and private finance. Proposed mechanisms include Polluter Pays Principle fees and fines; legislated allocation of existing environmental revenues to biodiversity conservation; new environmental fiscal revenues through taxes on natural resource extraction; debt-for-nature swaps converting national debt into biodiversity funding; payments for ecosystem services; green bonds; biodiversity offsets and credits; and benefit-sharing mechanisms [§274]. Private-sector channels are PPPs, CSR, and explicit and implicit environmental subsidies; NA 22.5 commits to tax incentives for biodiversity PPPs [§499].

National biodiversity finance plan (NA 22.6). Commits to a national framework referencing TEEB and BIOFIN, guidelines for biodiversity valuation in SEAs and EIAs, and economic valuation studies for Nature Reserves, coastal zones, the maritime public domain, high mountains, riparian zones classified as nature sites, and at least 20% of public forests [§500]. A Biodiversity Finance Tracking Tool covering biodiversity-positive taxes, fees, fines, projects, tradable permits, environmentally motivated subsidies and biodiversity offsets is to be established under NA 22.4 [§498].

Incentive reform. Decree 167/2017 tax credits, customs exemptions and subsidies "address environmental protection in general" but "do not specifically cover biodiversity and ecosystems", and the Polluter Pays Principle "has not yet been implemented", while Decree 167/2017 incentives are "limited and uneven[ly] implemented" [§111]. Fines in the current forest and fishing laws are described as "outdated and devalued, due to currency inflation" [§111].

Indicators for international public funding (D.1), domestic public funding (D.2), private funding (D.3), Green Climate Fund deployment and the PPP count are assigned to MoE and MoF for annual reporting [§489–§495]. GBF Target 19 receives substantive treatment through NT 22, the national biodiversity finance plan (NA 22.6), and the Biodiversity Finance Tracking Tool.

Sources:

  • §111, §271–§274, §488–§502 — Chapter 4.2, Chapter 6.3, Appendix C NT 22

7. GBF Target Coverage

GBF Target 1 (Spatial planning) — Addressed. NT 1 commits 20% of ecosystems outside PAs to biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning by 2030, led by MoE with CDR, MoPWT, DGUP and CNRS, with five-year reporting and interim two- to three-year updates. Adopts Headline Indicator 1.1 as the national indicator, covers both terrestrial and marine scopes, and takes the 2012 Marine Protected Area Strategy and SDATL as baselines. A Marine Spatial Plan (NA 1.4) and mapping of anthropogenic pressures (NA 1.9) are the flagship actions.

GBF Target 2 (Ecosystem restoration) — Addressed. NT 2 sets a 20% rehabilitation target on degraded terrestrial, inland-water and marine/coastal ecosystems by 2030, explicitly including 2024-war-affected areas (see Rebuilding after the 2024 war). Tracked through FAO FERM Headline Indicator 2.1 and SDG 15.3.1. Pilot rehabilitation (NA 2.7) spans 15 ecosystem types including vermetid reefs and submarine canyons. The 20% threshold sits below the GBF Target 2 headline 30%.

GBF Target 3 (Protected areas 30x30) — Addressed. NT 3 adopts the 30x30 headline exactly, against a current PA estate of 3.7%. Delivery combines the Protected Areas Framework Law No. 130/2019 (including Himas), METT application, ProtConn and Species Protection Index indicators, and IUCN Green List membership. No intermediate milestone years are published.

GBF Target 4 (Species recovery and genetic diversity) — Addressed. Lebanon's numbering omits NT 4; species recovery is folded into NT 5, which commits genetic-diversity conservation for 40% of native fauna and flora, national conservation strategies for at least 100 species, and monetary valuations for at least 30. Uses the Red List Index and Headline Indicator A.4 (populations with Ne > 500).

GBF Target 5 (Sustainable harvest) — Addressed. NT 6 commits to sustainable, safe and legal use of wild species, "reducing the risk of pathogen spillover by applying the ecosystem approach". Protocols target endemic species affected by overexploitation, with capacity-building for forest guards, PA rangers, customs, border security and municipal police on CITES and IUCN Red List species (NA 6.4).

GBF Target 6 (Invasive alien species) — Addressed. NT 7 commits to "effective measures... in place" by 2030 — a binary threshold. Tracked through Headline Indicator 6.1 (rate of IAS establishment from GBIF, baselines 1956 marine and 2020 terrestrial), a live IAS register (NA 7.1), awareness campaigns, and support to quarantine and customs covering crops, landscaping, aquaculture, domesticated animals and the aquarium trade.

GBF Target 7 (Pollution reduction) — Addressed. NT 8 covers nutrients, pesticides and plastics with no numeric reduction threshold. Adopts Headline Indicator 7.2 (Aggregated Total Applied Toxicity), the FAO Cropland Nutrient Budget, and commits to monthly monitoring of pollutants in high-conservation-value ecosystems — an unusually tight cadence. Includes a dedicated assessment of phosphorus impacts from the 2024 war.

GBF Target 8 (Climate and biodiversity) — Addressed. NT 9 commits vulnerability assessments, species distribution models for at least 50 native species, adaptation plans for at least five vulnerable ecosystems, and a relative sea-level-rise model. Tracks the ratio of implemented to developed climate plans under an adapted Headline Indicator 8.b.

GBF Target 9 (Wild species use and benefits) — Mentioned. The NBSAP does not set a dedicated national commitment on benefits to vulnerable populations. Headline Indicator 9.1 (Benefits from the Sustainable Use of Wild Species) is adopted as a national indicator but cannot yet be applied pending availability of methodology. Coverage flows through NT 6's respect for customary sustainable use by Indigenous peoples and local communities.

GBF Target 10 (Sustainable agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and forestry) — Addressed. NT 11 mainstreams locally released cultivars, native rootstocks, organic farming, agroecology, agroforestry, conservation agriculture, treated-wastewater reuse, rainfed crops, and sustainable fisheries using native, naturalised and acclimatised species. Tracked via Headline Indicator 10.1 and the Agrobiodiversity Index (national score 54.8). NA 12.3 sets a 50 ha mainstreaming target with MoA, Green Plan, LARI and local NGOs.

GBF Target 11 (Ecosystem services / NbS) — Addressed. NT 12 adopts the SEEA framework (Headline Indicator B.1), assesses ecosystem functions in PAs covering at least three ecosystem types, promotes NbS including artificial reefs and restored corridors, and commits to economic valuation of at least 20% of public forests under NA 22.6 referencing TEEB and BIOFIN.

GBF Target 12 (Urban biodiversity) — Addressed. NT 13 conserves urban green and blue spaces with biodiversity-inclusive urban planning, an explicit native-species requirement for urban-greening technologies (green rooftops, vertical rooftops, raised beds, green walls), and tracks share of built-up area that is green/blue space. Led by DGUP — unusual in this NBSAP.

GBF Target 13 (Genetic resources / ABS and DSI) — Addressed. NT 15 reviews, updates and reinforces legal, policy, administrative and capacity-building measures, with NT 14 providing a paired commitment on traditional knowledge. Indicators include ABS Clearing-House certificates, ITPGRFA Multilateral System transfers (LARI, baseline December 2022), and Headline Indicators C.1 and C.2. Includes advanced genetic research, sequencing and barcoding (NA 15.5).

GBF Target 14 (Mainstreaming) — Addressed. NT 16 commits to cross-sectoral mainstreaming with at least 10 SEA training sessions/year on Decree 8213/2012, at least 5 sector-specific ecological-impact-assessment sessions/year, and integration into at least 7 key sectors. Adopts an adapted Headline Indicator 14.b and a percentage indicator on integration of biodiversity in national accounts.

GBF Target 15 (Business disclosure) — Addressed. NT 17 targets 75% of large businesses (over 250 employees) with biodiversity impact assessments and disclosure by 2030, 30% reduction in negative impacts and 20% increase in positive impacts against 2020–2026 baselines. Uses the TNFD framework, a public CSR registry, a standardised impact-assessment tool, and a "Biodiversity Leaders" top-20 annual recognition programme. NT 18 adds the 40%/20% sustainable production plan thresholds for large/medium enterprises.

GBF Target 16 (Sustainable consumption) — Addressed. NT 19 reduces the national consumption footprint through a binary contribution to Headline Indicator 16.b, replicates the Food Waste Index, Material Footprint per Capita and Recycling Rate, and introduces a consumer-facing QR-code product life-cycle tool (NA 19.1) linked to a marine-litter reduction strategy (NA 19.2).

GBF Target 17 (Biosafety) — Addressed. NT 20 commits that the Cartagena Protocol implementation mechanism is operational by 2030, with indicators on BCH records, LMO risk assessments under Article 15, customs controls, seed-bank share of national plant species, and mandatory use of local and native species in government-funded projects (NA 20.6). The NBSAP flags that CoM Decision 53/2014's draft biosafety decree remains unissued and the National Biosafety Committee has ceased operating.

GBF Target 18 (Harmful subsidies) — Addressed. NT 21 identifies and phases out harmful incentives — expressly including fossil-fuel subsidies and fisheries subsidies — and scales up positive incentives. Policy levers include fee increases for construction permits near ecologically sensitive areas (NA 21.3), organic-agriculture subsidies, and increased fines for forest violations and illegal logging. Adopts both Headline Indicators 18.1 and 18.2.

GBF Target 19 (Finance mobilisation) — Addressed. NT 22 commits to mobilising at least US$100 million per year by 2030 from all sources. See Section 6 for full treatment: Headline Indicators D.1–D.3, the Biodiversity Finance Tracking Tool, the national biodiversity finance plan (NA 22.6) referencing TEEB/BIOFIN, valuation studies for at least 20% of public forests, and the PPP indicator.

GBF Target 20 (Capacity and technology) — Addressed. NT 23 strengthens capacity-building and joint scientific research, tracked through an adapted Headline Indicator 20.b (percentage increase in budget), a binary biodiversity capacity-building budget indicator, and a Clearing-House Mechanism operationality indicator. NA 23.4 establishes a spin-off incubation and acceleration programme linking the private sector and research centres.

GBF Target 21 (Data, information and knowledge) — Addressed. NT 24 ensures accessibility of data, information and knowledge through a dedicated Chapter 5 monitoring system, Headline Indicator 21.1, and individually costed National Actions: a survey programme with the Central Administration of Statistics (NA 24.1, US$100,000); MoE awareness unit (NA 24.2, US$200,000); Greening Education strategy with teacher training (NA 24.3, US$500,000); national science fairs and MoE open-house events (NA 24.4, US$300,000); biodiversity and environment school clubs (NA 24.5, US$100,000); and NGO data-collection capacity (NA 24.6, US$100,000).

GBF Target 22 (Inclusive participation) — Addressed. NT 25 ensures inclusive, gender-responsive participation and access to justice, expressly including local communities, women and girls, children and youth, persons with disabilities, and the full protection of environmental human rights defenders (NA 25.1, US$100,000). Satisfaction of marginalised groups is tracked by survey. Each NA is individually budgeted.

GBF Target 23 (Gender equality) — Addressed. NT 26 commits gender equity in NBSAP implementation. A standalone Chapter 6.6 on Gender Mainstreaming sets out national baselines (see Section 5) and acknowledges that the National Strategy for Women in Lebanon 2022–2030 does not address the environmental sector. National Actions integrate biodiversity into national gender strategies (NA 26.1), work with women-led cooperatives (NA 26.2), and conduct a biodiversity-sector gender baseline study (NA 26.3). The February 2025 government appointed the first woman Minister of Environment.