BEIRUT, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's forests are under mounting pressure from prolonged droughts, recurring heatwaves, wildfires, and illegal logging, experts have warned, as widespread forest decline becomes increasingly visible across the country.
Forests cover about 13 percent of Lebanon's land, roughly 136,000-140,000 hectares, with an additional 106,000 hectares classified as wooded or other tree-covered land. In recent years, however, forest degradation has intensified, particularly in mountainous regions where natural forests are concentrated.
Jawad Yahya, a 70-year-old forest guard with nearly five decades of experience in southern Lebanon, said that even traditionally resilient species such as pine, juniper, and oak are showing alarming signs of stress. "These trees appear exhausted and unable to recover. We are seeing trees that are no longer viable," he said.
Agricultural engineer Iyad Maalouf attributed the decline to cumulative drought and heatwaves, which weaken tree roots and tissues and reduce their resistance to disease and pests.
"The problem is not a single dry year but several years of drought without sufficient recovery periods," he explained.
Environmental expert Kamel Khair said that illegal logging and fires triggered by Israeli shelling have destroyed large forested areas that are difficult to restore in the short term. Any large-scale decline in forests, he warned, would result in long-term environmental and economic losses for a country already under severe pressure.
Since 2019, Lebanon has lost around 15 million square meters of forest due to illegal logging, including 6.7 million square meters in 2021 alone, according to the Ministry of Environment.
The country also faces ongoing wildfire risks, with more than 170 forest fires recorded annually, affecting approximately 1,500 hectares of woodland each year.
The Ministry of Agriculture says it is closely monitoring forest conditions nationwide. Ismail Amin, head of the ministry's office in Hasbaya in southeastern Lebanon, told Xinhua that technical teams are conducting intensive field inspections across different regions, assessing damage and preparing appropriate treatment measures.
