Al-Zein: Transitioning from Response to Prevention and Preparedness

Environment Minister Tamara Al-Zein attended the distribution of equipment and signed cooperation agreements at the Sweijani Municipal Union and the municipalities of Deir el-Qamar and Kafr Qatra. She also distributed training certificates to 33 first responders who completed training programs under the project and inaugurated an operations room at the Sweijani Municipal Union. These efforts aim to enhance local readiness and mitigate forest fire risks, with MP Farid Bastani and municipal presidents present: Kamal Ghosaini for the Sweijani Union and Baakline municipality, Aline Nassar for Kafr Qatra, and Nagi Jarmanous for Deir el-Qamar, alongside representatives from partner entities.

The selection of these areas was based on annual fire data and forest fire risk indicators, which allow identifying the most vulnerable zones and directing prevention and preparedness measures accordingly. This intervention falls under the "Forest Fire Prevention in Lebanon" project, funded by the Global Environment Facility through the World Bank, covering areas in Chouf, Akkar, and the North. The project has entered an advanced implementation phase involving the formation and training of first responder teams, equipping municipalities and unions with specialized machinery, and developing forest management plans in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant authorities.

Al-Zein affirmed that "combating forest fires does not begin when firefighting teams arrive, but years earlier, through investment in prevention, pre-planning, early warning, enhancing readiness, and strengthening coordination among various stakeholders." She stressed "the necessity of shifting from a culture of response to a culture of prevention and preparedness, especially in light of climate change and increasing fire risks."

In this context, she warned against "negligence in protecting forests and woodlands, particularly given rising heating fuel prices and potential living pressures," emphasizing "the need to prevent any exploitation of forests by deliberately starting fires to obtain firewood, and dealing firmly with such practices."

Al-Zein noted that "training first responders and providing them with equipment, along with opening the operations room at the Sweijani Municipal Union, constitute interconnected elements to enhance rapid intervention capabilities, coordination, and information exchange during fires."

She underscored that "what is achieved through the project serves as a prototype for what Lebanon needs, as the scale of risks and the vast natural areas exposed to fires require expanding these efforts to include additional regions and boosting investment in national-level prevention, preparedness, and response."

Al-Zein clarified that "protecting Lebanon's forests and natural resources is a shared responsibility requiring integrated efforts from institutions, municipalities, civil defense, first responder teams, and local communities, while promoting a culture of prevention to limit losses and preserve natural resources for future generations."