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For the 9th year in a row, MIO-ECSDE’s Lebanese member HEAD, the Human Environmental Association for Development, organized a series of environmental activities on the occasion of World Environment Day, including a “Mediterranean Beach Cleanup Campaign”, sponsored by the Ministries of Tourism and Environment, the United Nations Environment Program and MIO-ECSDE, as part of the global UNEP campaign under the slogan “Preserving Marine Biodiversity” as well as in conjunction with Legambiente’s 2024 Clean Up the Med campaign.
HEAD’s campaign was launched in the ancient port of Byblos with an impressive participation of ministries, MPs, mayors, the Green Party of Lebanon, and representatives from environmental and civic organizations. The opening speeches highlighted the importance of the Byblos district, which includes 3 nature reserves and is the first city in Lebanon to ban the use of plastic bags.
The campaign was carried out from Byblos Beach all the way to Sidon Beach with the participation of 54 NGOs, 2 Networks of NGOs (Lebanese Environment Forum & Eco Movement), the Green Party of Lebanon, 13 Municipalities, 2 TV stations, 11 Daily Newspapers, 3 international media, representatives from the public and private sectors and university students.
Tons of plastic were collected, sorted, and sent to the Lebanon Waste Management Center in Byblos. A fish and turtle model were placed in the ancient port of Byblos and the beach of Sidon respectively, to raise awareness on the impact of plastics on marine biodiversity.
You can read more about last year’s Clean up Campaign organized by HEAD and its other activities in its 2023 Report of Activities here.
Read in French here