North Lebanon Coastal Zone

CASE description

The Northern coastline constitutes approximately 37% of the total Lebanese coast with 102.5 Km of shoreline length. It includes three bays and two main headlands and a variety of river deltas as well as the Palm Island Nature Reserve. The coast is sandy/pebbly (51% of the total Northern coast) and rocky (49% of the total Northern coast).

Marine Resources and Coastal Zone Management Program - Institute of the Environment - University of Balamand

ICZM phase

Designing the Future

Main coastal issues

- Erosion

- Urban sprawl

- Impacts on fisheries

Relation between the Coastal issue and the ICZM protocol principles and articles

Relevance of the coastal issue

The below are outcomes from studies carried-out within the context of the IMAC project: (Please visit the download section on www.balamand.edu.lb/imac for more details)

• Socio-economic assessment of the coastal zone:

1. Municipal assessment focusing on budget of municipalities lead to a main conclusion which is the lack of financial and human resources for environmental issues. 2. Socio-economic assessment of residents (education, gender, income) and their perception of the coastal zone. 3. Assessment of partial GDP and main economic activities.

• Legal assessment:

Main recommendation is to establish an entity in charge of the coastal zone either through the existing governmental structure or the creation of a new one. No indicators were calculated from the toolbox yet, but some indicators have already been selected and linked to the IMAC strategy (attached Annex I). The main challenge for the calculation of the indicators is securing the appropriate financial and material resources.

Objectives

- To mitigate coastal risk

- To improve urban sprawl and fishery resources management

Marine Resources and Coastal Zone Management Program - Institute of the Environment - University of Balamand

End Products

Reports on conservation and particular relevant coastal issues (coastal dynamics and pollution, urban sprawl and artificialiation, erosion, accretion and sea filling)

Tools foreseen to be developed and used

Indicators - LEAC - Economic Assessment - Modelling about pollution and sediment transport - Scenarios - Participatory methods

Other tools to be applied

Early warning system

Training needs

LEAC - Applied coastal physical oceanography indicators - Pollution transport - Early warning system

CASE Responsibles

Manale Abou Dagher, Manal R. Nader, University of Balamnd, manal.aboudagher@balamand.edu.lb, Manal.nader@balamand.edu.lb

Elaboration: Stefano Soriani, Fabrizia Buono, Monica Camuffo, Marco Tonino, University Ca’ Foscari of Venice.