Short description of the best practice

The Sustainable Land Management Programme for Livelihood Development in Lebanon will assist the Lebanese Government in identifying the specific problems and obstacles encountered in the long-term process of reducing land degradation and achieving sustainable land management. The programme will focus on integrated rural livelihood development by integrating sustainable natural resource management with better alternatives in agricultural production and enhancing proper market linkages. The programme will explore industrial hemp, which does not require pesticide applications, as an alternative to the high THC cannabis plant in the Bekaa for improving the livelihood of rural communities and reducing land degradation.

Location

Bekaa Valley - Lebanon

Brief description of the natural environment within the specified location.

The Bekaa valley is the most important agricultural region in Lebanon. The Northern Bekaa is a semi-arid region
Mainly Mediterranean red soil
Mainly plain, with some slopes and mountains|

Prevailing socio-economic conditions of those living in the location and/or nearby

Traditionnaly and for several years, production of illicit crops, mainly cannabis and poppy. Poverty signs started to show once the illicit crops were stopped.|
Agriculture.
Private and public lands (including lands owned by religious communities) with user rights through rent

On the basis of which criteria and/or indicator(s) (not related to The Strategy) the proposed practice and corresponding technology has been considered as 'best'?

The war situation, which prevailed in Lebanon for decades, has negatively affected the livelihood of local communities mainly in remote rural areas. Environmental degradation causes additional socio-economic burden on the livelihood of rural communities. The illicit production of cannabis and poppys has severely affected the social structure in the region. The project is proposing the replacement of cannabis plantations, by indistrial hemp which is very adapted to the local condidtions. The income generated by this industrial crop may somehow compensate for the loss occured after the cannabis cultivation was banned.|

Main problems addressed by the best practice

Drylands with low potential for conventional agricultural production.
Poor socio-economic conditions with local communities severely affected by successive war events and by drylands and drought.

Outline specific land degradation problems addressed by the best practice

Severe land degradation and soil erosion caused by unsustainable land use practices

Specify the objectives of the best practice

Industrial hemp promoted as a potential alternative to narcotic plants in the Bekaa for improving the livelihood of rural communities

Brief description of main activities, by objective

Technical capacity building to produce and market Industrial Hemp.
Selection of hemp variety and farming areas.
Implementation of Industrial Hemp.

Short description and technical specifications of the technology

Test the production of industrial hemp on 2,000du. Develop links with the private sector in order to market the products and to finance further development of the production. Provide financial and technical support to farmers to continue the production beyound the end of the project.|

Name and address of the institution developing the technology

Ministry of Agriculture|Ministry of Agriculture/ Director of Studies and Coordination
Bir Hassan - Beirut - Lebanon

Was the technology developed in partnership?

Yes

List the partners:

Local farmers

Specify the framework within which the technology was promoted

• National initiative – government-led
• Programme/project-based initiative

Was the participation of local stakeholders, including CSOs, fostered in the development of the technology?

Yes

List local stakeholders involved:

Local farmers

For the stakeholders listed above, specify their role in the design, introduction, use and maintenance of the technology, if any.

The local farmers are in charge of the production and maintenance of the industrial hemp and of the maintenance and sustainability beyound the life span of the project.

Was the population living in the location and/or nearby involved in the development of the technology?

No

Describe on-site impacts (the major two impacts by category)

Sustainable agricultural production in the drylands
Prevention of erosion and further land degradation
Shifting from illicit crops to legal and productive crops in a region where agricultural production is becoming a major challenge
Provision of an economical alternative to illict crops
development of a good source of income and access to credits and investment facilities
Development of a new line of a products in the drylands of Lebanon

Describe the major two off-site (i.e. not occurring in the location but in the surrounding areas) impacts

Provision of an alternative production in region where agricultural production is challenging

Impact on biodiversity and climate change

Explain the reasons:

The sustainable management of the natural resources and the sustainable management of the drylands contributes to the conservation of the local biodiversity, through the conservation of soils and water and prevention of erosion|
Hemp is tolerant to drought and offers a good alternative to agricultural crops in dry areas and areas affected by drought

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

No

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

No

Can you identify the three main conditions that led to the success of the presented best practice/technology?

The programme focuses on integrated rural livelihood development by integrating sustainable natural resource management with better alternatives in agricultural production and enhancing proper market linkages.
It explores industrial hemp, which does not require pesticide applications, as an alternative to the high THC cannabis plant in the Bekaa for improving the livelihood of rural communities and reducing land degradation.

Replicability

In your opinion, the best practice/technology you have proposed can be replicated, although with some level of adaptation, elsewhere?

Yes

At which level?

• Local
• Sub-national
• National
• Subregional
• Regional
• International

Related to human resources

The project is not finished and no lessons can be drawn yet

Related to financial aspects

The project is not finished and no lessons can be drawn yet

Related to technical aspects

The project is not finished and no lessons can be drawn yet