Our partners in Lebanon
SPNL (Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon) is the largest nature conservation association in the country and Lebanese BirdLife partner is our most important partnership in the fight for better protection of migratory birds. In addition to carrying out our joint operations and campaigns, SPNL carries out numerous projects of its own throughout the year. The main focus and heart of SPNL's work is the establishment and preservation of large protected areas such as the world-famous cedar reserve near Shoef and the more than 25 'Hima' protected areas. It is based on a management concept that is more than 1,500 years old and defines respect for nature, preservation of old traditions and sustainable management as central guidelines for the management of village communities.
MESHC (The Middle East Sustainable Hunting Centre): An initiative of Lebanese hunters who fight together with us and the SPNL against poaching. Members of the MESHC are closely involved in our bird protection camps and contribute with their knowledge of poaching and the strongholds of illegal hunting to the success of these missions. The fact that hunters are officially part of our observer teams also helps to talk to hunters and poachers and convince them that hunting birds of prey, storks and other protected species is not sustainable.
ABCL - Association for Bird Conservation in Lebanon (Facebook page): A bird conservation association that has a nationwide network of ornithologists, nature lovers and veterinarians who regularly provide us with up-to-date information about poaching and also conduct their own campaigns and public relations work on the subject. ABCL experts also regularly search the internet for "trophy photos" of Lebanese hunters posing with dead protected birds. With the support of the German Embassy, ABCL employees have been visiting numerous schools since autumn 2019, where they hold lessons and seminars on bird migration and bird protection.