KHENSHARA PINE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN

The plan was developed by the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI) under the Livelihoods in Forestry (LiF) project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The forest management plan aims to detail a plan for the pine forest of Khenshara, which was affected by a wind throw in late February 2021. The monastery encouraged the removal of fallen trees and branches for fuel wood, and the exploiter of the forest is conducting actions to reduce the fire risk in the upcoming season. The forest is located in the Caza of Maten, on an altitudinal range varying between 900 and 1200m, within the watershed of Nahr el Kalb. The forest is diverse, with parts covered by a deciduous broadleaved oak forest, others dominantly planted with stone pine, and some stands are mixed. The focus of the plan is on the cadastral units planted with stone pine, which are divided into seven homogeneous stands that are managed as separate units. The forest is highly encroached with residential and agricultural areas, which poses a fire risk and hinders the forest's expansion. The socio-economic survey conducted by the LRI team revealed that the locals do not rely on the forest for their livelihood, and the monastery leases the pine forest on an annual basis to one or more persons to conduct necessary activities such as pine harvesting, pruning, and maintenance of planted seedlings. The municipality and local community-based organizations (CBOs) are also managing some hiking trails in the forest to promote eco-tourism. The forest inventory conducted by the LRI team in autumn 2020 and winter 2021 assessed the damages from the wind throw and took into account the desired future activities in the forest. The inventory determined the profile of the forest, including forest typology, forest structure, and composition, and delineated management units with specific management plans for forestry activities. The forest management plan aims to ensure the sustainability of the forest and its production of pine nuts, while also reducing the fire risk and promoting eco-tourism. The plan will be implemented in close collaboration between the monastery, the exploiters, and the municipality, and will cover training the users on new approaches in pruning and thinning. The technical support for training and plantation will be ensured by the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative. The plan also takes into account the Law 86, which prohibits the cutting of conifer trees, and the derogations allowed by the law and the Ministry of Agriculture to remove trees affected by pest outbreaks and considered a threat to the forest or public safety. The plan will be implemented in a way that ensures the conservation of the forest and its biodiversity, while also promoting the livelihoods of the local community. The forest management plan is a comprehensive document that outlines the management plan for the pine forest of Khenshara, taking into account the socio-economic and environmental context of the forest. The plan aims to ensure the sustainability of the forest and its production of pine nuts, while also reducing the fire risk and promoting eco-tourism.