The Third Hike… Towards Declaring Zibqin Valley a National Nature Reserve

The Green Southerners, in cooperation with the Cultural Youth Forum, organized the third hike to introduce Zibqin Valley as part of the effort to declare it a national nature reserve. Young men and women from the Forum’s members, the administrative board, the association’s vice president Mr. Fadi Sweidan, and environmental activists gathered in front of the Forum’s headquarters in Tyre early in the morning. They then headed to the town of Zibqin, about 17 km south of Tyre, where more participants from the Green Southerners, locals from the town and surrounding villages, and the regional coordinator of the Green Southerners, engineer Wissam Bazzi, were waiting. The hike began after everyone enjoyed traditional Zibqin saj manakish with wood-fired tea.

This third hike comes within the ongoing effort to highlight the valley and its ecological importance in order to protect it and declare it, from Al-Hiniyyeh to Beit Lif and extending toward the tributaries of Wadi Teir Harfa, Shihin, and Al-Jbin, a national nature reserve, due to its rich ecological diversity.

Participants walked from the Al-Jurran (Al-Ajran) area, named after ancient stone basins still found there, then continued toward Naba‘ Al-Nafkha and Naba‘ Al-Dalfa, eventually reaching the Ain Al-Tineh River. Throughout the hike, coordinator Bazzi introduced the group to various sites, trees, plants, and animal species found in the valley.

The valley extends for more than fifteen kilometers and features dense forested areas with dozens of wild tree species, including frankincense, pine, willow, laburnum, pistachio, multiple species of acacia and carob, in addition to many aromatic plants and diverse vegetation that spreads throughout the valley. It is also home to numerous wildlife species and many kinds of birds, including partridge, hoopoe, wild pigeons, doves, falcons, eagles, and many others. Groups of wild boars, foxes, hyenas, as well as numerous reptiles, rodents, and insects are also present, most of which have not yet been thoroughly surveyed. The valley also contains many local streams, ponds, springs, caves, and striking natural formations, making it resemble an environmental paradise that still preserves all elements of Lebanon’s wild nature and stands as one of the unique regions in the South.

The joint organization by the Cultural Youth Forum and the Green Southerners, who had previously organized two hikes the year before, reflects the Forum’s support, as well as that of the youth of Tyre, for this initiative. The organizers were also careful to promote environmentally responsible behavior, encouraging visitors to the valley to avoid grilling due to its risks on the surrounding environment, and to refrain from using canned goods or glass containers that might be discarded or buried, as these can cause fires or contaminate soil and water. Instead, participants were encouraged to carry waste bags for their trash and take them back upon leaving the valley.