Lebanon was once known as the Switzerland of the Middle East for the beauty and the diversity of its landscapes and ecosystems, the mildness of its climate, the richness of its vegetation, its natural resources and its cultural and historical heritage. Today, after nearly a century of neglect and apathy at all levels (political, social, environmental, archaeological), the reality is different: Lebanon has become one of the underdeveloped countries.

Alongside national issues in terms of decision-making and the development of territorial strategies, the environment is one of the weakest links in the chain of concerns of the Lebanese government and citizens. Non-government...