EDILE project regional exchange session - January 29, 2015

The Economic Value of the ShoufBiosphere Reserve – Lebanon

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

• 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

• 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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.

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 $

Thank you for your attention and feedback!

Partners

Federparchi and Abruzzo National Park

Dana Biosphere Reserve

Visit us & Discover Nature in Lebanon

www.shoufcedar.org