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The Friends of Nature is the first environmental NGO in Lebanon, established in 1972 with the visionary aspiration of our founder, Dr. Ricardus Haber.

Dr. Haber realized the significance of the natural heritage of Lebanon as the fundamental foundation for a prosperous country in all its economic sectors and recognized the lurking threats.The mission was launched with the goals to protect the existing, teach the value and orient actions and policies.

Guided by a board of secretariat that defines our strategies and strategic plan, Friends of Nature progressed to establish structural and functional milestones for nature and the environment.

We employ a diversity of methodologies to attain our goals, including research, field work, capacity building, community engagement, audiovisual documentation and more. For raising awareness, multitudes of tools are utilized: lectures, competitions, exhibitions, nature walks, activities, events,...

CONTRIBUTIONS

Friends of Nature fathered the environmental movement contributing the rise of environmental consciousness and representing the sole voice for nature preservation over decades.

Friends of Nature defined the establishment of the Ministry of Environment providing the declaration preambles at the decisive government council session.

More and more milestones were set leading in four programs: Marine program, Ecosystem program, education program and sustainable agriculture program.

Threats to natural assets were actively fought through sit ins, protests, press conferences, media engagement, writing articles and letters demanding stop of damaging actions.

KNOW US BETTER THROUGH OUR HISTORY, PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES WHICH REFLECT OUR QUALITY

FON IS A NATIONAL NGO WORKING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF NATURE LOCALLY IN LEBANON IN SUPPORT OF THE GLOBAL MOVEMENT AND OUR PLANET

Our activities encompass the whole territory of Lebanon serving both marine and terrestrial environments. We collaborate with local rural communities and authorities on the implementation and sustainability of project outcomes and impact. We provide all the support to help the beneficiaries sustain the actions and their benefits, to connect with stakeholders, and to enlarge the network of action and promotion of know-how and experience.

FON builds close relations with the beneficiaries and stakeholders, which enables us to act and achieve on a broad geographical range. Their support and attestation facilitate connecting with new communities surpassing any social, cultural or other barriers.

FON has acquired elaborate experience to communicate with all communities, social segments and age groups. Our strong skills engender engagement and inspire commitment guided by faithfulness to achieve betterment of conditions for nature and people together.

CHILDREN DEVOTION-LEARN OBSERVE EXPRESS

The most amazing achievement of our work with children is helping them recreate ...

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MARINE ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION

As the friends of nature, perseverance and dedication are two of our main assets .Our...

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND NATURAL HERITAGE

What is a country without its natural heritage? What is a natural heritage without its...

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AGROFORESTRY SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

Agroforestry is a land use practice that involves the introduction of mixture of ...

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CLIMATE ACTION: FON IN COP26 ON CHANNEL4 NEWS

The marine restoration program of Friends of Nature sent a message to COP26 to care for our oceans and seas with well due actions that are impactful, sustainable and replicable in order to reverse the destructive impact of climate change.

Friends of Nature provided a positive example to restore hope that local actions are effective and efficient; they can be relied on to present innovative initiatives that would multiply to generate a global impetus and accompany the directives of the international conventions.

The marine restoration program of FON is growing and diversifying its activities pioneering new adventures to the East Mediterranean.

CHANNEL4 NEWS contacted Friends of Nature to showcase our work representative of the achievements of a non-governmental organization in a developing country facing the pressures of COVID-19 outbreak, social and financial instability and yet making a difference. Our work was broadcasted in the media campaign accompanying COP 26.

Tyler Anderson wrote on CHANNEL4 webpage:

At COP26, a lot of the focus has been on how humanity can become more green. But campaigners also want us to think blue. Oceans play an absolutely vital role in keeping our planet cool and their ongoing destruction means marine ecosystems are struggling. Tomorrow, ‘blue leaders’ at the conference will repeat their call to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030 – but will they be able to deliver anything new? We’ve been talking to people campaigning all over the world to save our oceans, and with the underwater photographer David Doubilet, who’s been chronicling the alarming effects of climate change, under the sea.

FON IN LOCAL NEWS

At every opportunity, we strive to spread our news in the NEWS in order to promote our actions and outputs for better visibility and donor acknowledgement.

FON IN TALK SHOWS

We also features our activities in morning TALK SHOWS, which offer more time to explain and express, to show illustrations on implementations, and to discuss and elaborate on the concepts and applications.

Addressing the public is focused to inform, to engender their support and to inspire them to be active in their our regions and protective of their resources.

FON IN AWARENESS PROGRAMS

Awareness programs address dedicated and concerned audiences that are sensitive to learning more and appreciating undertaken initiatives. FON networks with several TV stations to diffuse information on our actions, advancements and commitment through their programs.

FON IN WEBINARS

Corona outbreak inspired the development of novel communication tools that circumvent social distancing. WEBINARS grew popular to facilitate local and international communication. FON expanded its strategy to this extremely useful, inexpensive and broad outreaching tool.