Arab Group for the Protection of Nature | Lebanon
February 28, 2025

As part of efforts to revive Lebanon’s struggling agricultural sector due to the latest Israeli aggression, the Arab Group for the Protection of Nature has announced the launch of the “Together for Lebanon Olives” project in February 2025. The initiative aims to support farmers and rehabilitate lands devastated by the aggression by distributing and planting 200 olive trees in several farms across the Nabatieh Governorate in Lebanon.

This project comes in response to the environmental and economic damage inflicted on olive farms—an essential pillar of Lebanon’s agricultural heritage and economy.

The Israeli targeted shelling since October 8, 2023, and until the ceasefire at the end of November 2024 has destroyed at least 12% of olive farms in southern and eastern Lebanon, two regions that account for 36% of the country's olive and olive oil production. This has caused losses estimated at millions of dollars, in addition to the complete burning of over 65,000 olive trees.

The project seeks to replant damaged olive trees, preserve the cultural and agricultural identity symbolized by the olive tree, and enhance food sovereignty in Lebanon.

In his remarks, agricultural advisor to the Arab Group, Hassan Al-Jaajaa, affirmed that the project will be implemented in partnership with the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, the Arab Network for Food Sovereignty (ANFS), the Agricultural Movement in Lebanon, the Socio-Economic Action Collective (SEAC), LOYAC (Kuwait), the Environment and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU) at the American University of Beirut, and Development Alliance for Livelihood and Local Action (DALLA).

Watch the following video that demonstrates the "Together for Lebanon Olives" initiative that took place on February 28, 2025, here.

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