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EDILE project regional exchange session - January 29, 2015
The Economic Value of the ShoufBiosphere Reserve – Lebanon
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Established in 1996
50,000 hectares of surface,
which make SBR on of the
largest protected areas in the
Middle East and the East
Mediterranean (covers 5% of the
Lebanese territory)
Designated as a UNESCO Man
and Biosphere Reserve in 2005
SBR is managed by MOE / Local
committee / Management team
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• Some of the highest mountains in
the Middle East, providing a full
wealth of environmental services
including wild genes pool, freshwater
storage, climate mitigation, hydro-
geologic balance, and
aesthetic/leisure value.
• Interesting wildlife , 31 species of
mammals, with a good potential for
restoration through the reintroduction
of charismatic species such as Ibex,
Gazelle, Vultures, etc.
• A crossroads for bird migration,
strategically located on the routes
between Europe, Africa, and West
Asia.
Environmental Highlights
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• 620 hectares of Cedar forest -
the largest expanse of this species
in Lebanon and 30% of the
remaining cedar forests in the
country.
• The Reserve is the globally
southern limit of Lebanon Cedar
• 520 species of plants, 25
internationally and nationally
threatened species, and 48 plants
endemic to Lebanon
• 270 bird species recorded in the
Biosphere Reserve, many of which
are recorded from the Ammiq
wetland.
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Challenges
• The Shouf Biosphere Reserve is the largest inLebanon and hosts 116.000 inhabitants in itsdevelopment zone.
• Suffering from the low employment opportunities
• The managing body of the Reserve wants the localpopulations to play an effective role in the reservemanagement
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Management Plan
Vision
A world class Biosphere Reserve where natural and
cultural heritage are conserved, resources are treated as
wealth, investment receives due care, and development
is controlled by citizens, businesses, and the managing
authority.
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Objectives
1. “Taking Care of the Capital”
2. “Empowering the Management Body”
3. “Supporting the Shareholders”
4. “Putting the SBR on the Global Map”
local communities, management body, scientists, researchers, NGOs, educational
and cultural groups, local business people and other stakeholders
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Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem Services are “the benefits people derive from
ecosystems” (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2001). Those
include
1- Provisioning services such as food, water, wood, plants and other
raw materials;
2- Regulating services such as flood control;
3- Supporting services such as prevention of soil erosion, pollination
of crops and water purification;
4- Cultural services such as tourism, recreational and cultural
benefits.
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Based on a review of available data, quick surveys, and discussions
with the reserve management team and concerned stakholders, the
study focuses on five ecosystems services
Not calculated
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1. Carbon
The SBR acts as a carbon sink, sequestering atmospheric CO2. It also
generates a substantial quantity of wood and other organic products from
forest management and agriculture that can be used as briquettes. The
reserve also offers an unlimited supply of native seeds that support
several commercial plant nurseries.
Total value of Carbon Services: $1.1 million - $1.9 million / year
Carbon Description Value in US$
Carbon sequestration Social Cost of CO2-e = $37/MT $860,000
Biomass production Annual briquette production potential (Years
2014 - 2023) @ $ 0.2 / briquette
$200,000 - $1,000,000
Seed production
(commercial nurseries)
Contribution of SBR seeds to two commercial
plant nurseries in the region
$50,000
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2. Water Services
The SBR is a water tower that benefits at least 50 villages, hundreds ofcommercial facilities and at least 4 commercial water bottling plants. Thereserve gives rise to 3 perennial rivers and about 231 springs.Environmental flows support downstream ecosystems services andfunctions including the 100ha Ammiq Wetland.
Total value of Water Services: $13.7 million – 17.5 million
Provision of Water Description Value in US$
Grid water (western district) 75,000 subscribers at $150/year $8,437,500 - $11,250,000
Grid water (eastern district) 6,980 subscribers at $150/year $785,250 - $1,047,000
Bottled water Gross revenue from two bottling plants $2,640,000 - $3,360,000
Value of wetland Eco. value of some of the world’s wetlands $600,000
Hydropower MWhr generation at $0.08/Kwh $1,300,000
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The SBR supports 3 rivers….…and 1 Ramsar Site of International Importance
…and 10 man-made hill lakes ….as well as 4 water bottling plants
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3. Food Services
The SBR provides 1000s of hectares of rangeland that play an important
role in the provision of feed to animals (12,500 heads). The reserve also
supports the production and marketing of branded products (prepared by
local women in communal workshops), as well as increased honey
production by providing cleaner pastures (no pesticides and limited
grazing).
Total value of Food Services: $1,180,000 / year
Provision of Food Description Value in US$
Rangelands 12,500 goats in SBR and 60% of revenues at $800/goat $600,000
Wild harvesting Qualitative assessment Not Estimated
Rural products Annual sale of branded SBR products (2010-2013) $130,000
Incremental honey production
3000 registered beehives in SBR; 5kg incremental production per beehive at $30/kg
$450,000
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4. Tourism
The SBR has become a preferred destination for rural tourism. Visitors
(about 60,000-70,000 per year) are benefiting from improved services and
facilities most of which was made possible through donations and grants
(about $2.2 million in 10 years). Conventional restaurants and hotels
have also reported increased visitor numbers thanks to the reserve.
Total value of Tourism: $712,500 / Year
Tourism Description Value in US$
Entrance fees Visitor numbers at 4 entrances (2010-2013) $186,000
Lodging services (B&B) Revenues from lodging in SBR (2010-2013) $79,000
Conventional restaurants Incremental revenues due to the SBR $247,500
Tawlet Ammiq (eco-restaurant) Gross revenues in 2013 $200,000
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5. Cultural Services
The patrimonial value of the iconic cedar tree is priceless. Books and
tales have been written about this species and its presence in Lebanon
(Memoirs of a Cedar: A history of deforestation – A future of
conservation). The appeal of the SBR has triggered several programs
including the “Cedar Loan” to support SMEs and the “Adopt A Cedar Tree
Program”.
Total value of Cultural Services:
Priceless (not estimated)
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Ecosystem service Value ($/year)
Carbon:
C sequestration $860,000
Seed collection for nurseries $50,000
Biomass provision $200,000- $1,000,000
Water provision:
Grid water (Barouk and Safa) $8,437,500 - $11,250,000
Grid water (eastern district) $785,250 - $1,047,000
Water bottling industry $2,640,000 - $3,360,000
Ecological benefits of Ammiq wetland $600,000
Hydropower $1,300,000
Food provision:
Rangelands for animal production $600,000
Rural products (SBR label) $130,000
Incremental honey production $450,000
Tourism:
Tourism entrance fees $186,000
Guesthouse accommodation $79,000
Conventional restaurants $247,500
Tawlet Ammiq (Eco-restaurant) $200,000
Cultural services: Priceless
Total $16,765,250 - $21,359,500
Summary of SBR
Economic Value
19 million dollars
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Limitations of the Study
The economic value of the SBR presented in this report is a small fraction
of the total economic value of the reserve if all the ecosystem services
and functions could be quantified. The analysis has the following
limitations:
1. Some data are incomplete or not obtainable.
2. Several services and functions could not be monetized (climate change
regulator, flood defense) for lack of data or credible proxy indicators.
3. The assessment may contain some double-counting (Carbon emission
from briquettes may reduce the Carbon sequestration potential of the
reserve)
4. Establishing causality between the service and the SBR (attribution). How
much of the value of a service can one attribute to the presence of the
SBR?
The findings presented in this study should be regarded as a subset of
the overall value of the SBR. Future studies and additional resources
should be dedicated to refining the estimation of the economic value of
the SBR.
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The SBR is priceless – nature is priceless – life is
priceless and many of the values that are related to it
cannot be described in monetary terms
Total Value
What you can describe
in monetary terms
What you can
capture in
rents
Source: New Economics Foundation adapted from TEEB
SBR core management : $ US 1 million
Value : $ US 19 millions
! 1$ = 19 $
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Thank you for your attention and feedback!
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Partners
Federparchi and Abruzzo National Park
Dana Biosphere Reserve
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Visit us & Discover Nature in Lebanon
www.shoufcedar.org