The term ‘forest honey' refers to the type of honey produced by bees when they collect honeydew deposited by insects on trees. This niche product is linked in Lebanon to specific tree species which are Oak, Cedar, Juniper and Fir. Forest honey is typically rich in minerals and amino acids, possesses strong antibacterial properties and is therefore more expensive than other varieties.

With 10,057 registered beekeepers in Lebanon, according to data records obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture for the year 2017, our study estimated an average value of this forest ecosystem service, based on 2019 market prices, to be 52,936,440 USD.

Click on the map to read further information on the distribution of beekeepers, forest honey production, and the value of this ecosystem service per district.

Thus, conserving existing forests and reforesting areas with the honeydew producing species could help protecting the livelihoods of forest-dependent beekeepers and pave opportunities for financially struggling communities in a subsector with great potential.

As a space for relaxation, discovery, adventure, education, and spiritual connection, forests provide a valuable service of forest tourism. Although Lebanon’s forest-based tourism cannot be limited to certain regions in specific, it can most accurately be portrayed in nature reserves and protected forests. 

These nature reserves and protected areas employ individuals from the local communities and create space for ecotourism guides and local businesses to engage in activities within their grounds. In addition, and due to the emblematic nature of the Cedar tree and Lebanese forests, many souvenir shops and restaurants have capitalized on this cultural significance and based their establishments within proximity of nature reserves & protected forest areas.

Our study estimated this contribution of forest tourism to the local economy & to its associated businesses, generated by the visitors of 6 of the forest nature reserves and protected areas to be 15,533,783 USD in 2019.

Click on the name of each forest reserve and protected area listed below to know more about the economic value that it generates, through forest tourism, to different beneficiaries.

In the current economic crisis, supporting and enhancing forest-based tourism could present means of uplifting local livelihoods while also conserving valuable cultural and natural national assets.

Take a look at the new community livelihood support opportunity created through USAID support in Anjar, by establishing a model for responsible tourism based on previously reforested areas in 2012, the  Anjar Eco-park .

Lebanese forests act as Carbon sinks that sequester CO2 from the atmosphere and store Carbon within their different structures. The release of Carbon sequestered and stored in these ecosystems through shifts from forests to other land uses counteracts Lebanon's international commitment, through its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets, to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions on the national level by year 2030 and adapt to climate change.

Our study calculated the cumulative incremental value of the Carbon sequestration & storage service provided by the Lebanese forests for the period 2020-2030, from a 2019 baseline value, based on the economic burden that will be undertaken by the Lebanese Government to replace this service by 2030, if it is lost through shifts from forest to agriculture and urban settlements.

This value ranges between 12,943,385 USD and 14,995,500 USD depending on 2 scenario-combinations:

• Scenarios A & C reflect conditions under emissions scenario A and emissions' offset scenario C. The latter replaces this mitigation service with one provided by the installation of a mix of renewable energy technology.

• Scenarios A & D reflect conditions under emissions scenario A and emissions' offset scenario D. The latter replaces this service provided by existing forests with reforestation of new areas.

Look out for figure 1 below and swipe to the right to compare between these 2 scenario-combinations.

Thus, conserving forests and expanding them support Lebanon in reaching its NDC targets. It also reduces the financial burden on the Lebanese population and Government to compensate the loss of the Carbon sequestration and storage service that is already provided by the existing forests, with other practices.

Tree stands impact ambient air quality by their ability to capture gaseous and solid air pollutants from the atmosphere, as well as their influence on local air flows. The enhancement of air quality concretizes as a service near air pollution emission sources, by decreasing the risk of exposure to short or long-term high levels of air pollutants, that may have negative implications on the health of pre-disposed categories of the population.

Our study estimated a part of the potential yearly value of the enhancement of air quality service provided by tree stands within 200 m buffer zones from busy roads in Lebanon to be 2,282,477 USD.

This value concerns specifically patients suffering from circulatory and respiratory diseases, who are assumed to be exposed to long-term high levels of air pollutants from land transport vehicles in circulation, and whose health bills are mainly covered by the Ministry of Public health.

This potential service provided by existing tree stands and forests strategically located near air pollution emission sources such as roads, is critical to protect and support the quality of life of Lebanon's residents. The importance of this service amplifies in the absence of a reliable public transportation system, and with new challenges arising from the current national financial crisis, the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, and the increasing stress on household income and on the national economy.

This forest ecosystem services hotspots map aggregates the values of 3 of the calculated forest services - forest honey, forest tourism and Carbon sequestration and storage - by district. This tool can serve as a starting point to concentrate conservation and reforestation efforts around these high value regions, and within the forest connectivity corridor that aims to connect forests of high importance, and increase their resilience.

Additional forest ecosystem services values will be added progressively to this map to reflect the total economic value of the Lebanese forest ecosystems.

Forest Ecosystem services are many. Our study has only covered 4 of them so far. Help us identify which forest ecosystem services should we value next by answering 2 survey questions.