Ministry of Agriculture and Kbeiat Municipality Sign Memorandum for Forest Management and Protection

Minister of Agriculture Nizar Hani received at his office a delegation from the Kbeiat Municipality, led by Deputy Mayor Mirna Karam, in the presence of MP Jimmy Jabbour, as part of efforts to enhance cooperation in protecting forestry resources and developing their sustainable management.

The Ministry of Agriculture announced "cooperation with the Kbeiat Municipality, under a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry, represented by Minister Hani, and the Municipality, represented by its Municipal Council President Michel Abdo Abdo, to manage the Kbeiat forests according to a plan aimed at reducing fire risks, preserving forest health and biological diversity, and ensuring sustainability and natural regeneration."

This cooperation establishes a framework for partnership between the Ministry and local authorities, based on implementing well-studied technical interventions that combine fire prevention with the conservation of forestry ecosystems, thereby enhancing the municipality's ability to protect and manage the forest under the supervision and oversight of the Ministry.

The plan includes organizing pruning, thinning, and cleaning operations, removing dead branches and work residues, based on technical inspection and according to conditions determined by the Ministry of Agriculture. These operations are carried out in phases, with a commitment to protecting trees and seedlings and maintaining soil integrity.

Under the memorandum, the Municipality undertakes to execute the works through qualified workers, after completing the necessary permits and approvals, while the specialized Forestry Center monitors implementation and verifies compliance with technical conditions. Transitioning to any new phase requires acceptance of the previous phase's work, removal of its residues, and obtaining written approval from the Ministry.

The memorandum limits the scope of work to interventions aimed at fire protection, prohibiting random tree cutting, opening new roads, burning residues, and charcoal production within the work area, while also regulating the handling of resulting firewood in accordance with legal procedures.

This cooperation paves the way for developing a participatory model in sustainable forest management, starting from the Kbeiat forest and enhancing the role of municipalities in prevention and protection, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, to preserve forestry wealth as a national heritage and environmental resource for future generations.