Agroforestry Pilot Sites Replication Adopters Selection Report

The report focuses on the selection of adopters for the replication of agroforestry sites on their lands in order to disseminate the implementation of agroforestry and knowledge on the practice. Following the implementation of the 3 agroforestry pilot sites of Makne, Mdoukha, and Bakka, and the training cycles provided by agroforestry experts to the communities, along with LRI team dissemination and awareness-raising sessions, expression of interest in agroforestry started to increase among communities. Five initiators expressed interest in agroforestry, and they were assessed based on specific criteria to ensure a successful and impactful collaboration. The criteria for selection included financial capability of landowners, diversity of types of land cover selected, regional distribution, and women's engagement in agroforestry land management. The selected adopters were required to commit to covering 70% of the site implementation budget, ensuring ownership and adoption of the agroforestry practice. The five selected adopters are located in different regions of Lebanon, including Akkar, Batroun, Zgharta, Nabatieh, and Hasbaya. Each adopter has a unique land cover and land use, ranging from monoculture agricultural land to abandoned woodland plots and bare land. The adopters' objectives and visions for implementing agroforestry vary, including improving productivity, conserving forests, and generating income. The selected adopters are: 1. Sheikh Zannad in Akkar, with landowners Mr. Amin Salam and Mr. Karim Salam, who aim to improve and diversify productivity, solve water drainage problems, and reforest in Akkar. 2. Assia in Batroun, with landowners Ms. Diala Samarani, Ms. Helena El Bahha, Mr. Alfred Moussa, and Mr. Chadi Moussa, who aim to protect and conserve the forested site and improve productivity. 3. Karmsaddeh in Zgharta, with landowner Ms. Cosette Ishac, who aims to manage the forest plot to increase productivity and economic resilience. 4. Sarba in Nabatieh, with landowners Mr. Raed Jouni and Mr. Nader Jouni, who aim to improve the productivity of the site for self-sufficiency production and develop a home garden. 5. Kfeir in Hasbaya, with landowner Mr. Ragheed Gharzeddine, who aims to produce high-value crops to valorize the land productivity and generate alternative sources of income. The selected adopters have diverse land cover and land use, and their objectives and visions for implementing agroforestry are aligned with the project's goals. The replication of agroforestry sites on their lands will help disseminate the implementation of agroforestry and knowledge on the practice, contributing to sustainable land management and economic development in Lebanon.