Last week Sandbach, UK’s A ROCHA group heard a ‘story of hope from Lebanon’, with Chris Naylor first setting out the background of the Middle East and Lebanon in particular.

He then described the remarkable success of the Lebanon project since it began 11 years ago with the aim of conserving the last remaining wetland in the country.

He explained the commitment to conservation which motivates the independent A ROCHA projects, now in 18 countries worldwide.

The speaker described the Aamiq marsh project set up by A ROCHA Lebanon in the Bekaa valley, and its significance to the huge number of birds that migrate to Europe.

He further explained how the project has contributed to a growing interest in the environment in this troubled region of the Middle East.

Conservation education has been promoted through building of strong links with local schools and organisations from across the community and from all religious backgrounds.

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The Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa is seeking official protection for 10 million square meters of land at a time when Lebanon is still recovering from devastating forest fires and environmental damage that plagued the country last year.

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