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 inthe Middle East, providing a fullwealth of environmental servicesincluding wild genes pool, freshwaterstorage, climate mitigation, hydro-geologic balance, andaesthetic/leisure value.

• Interesting wildlife , 31 species ofmammals, with a good potential forrestoration through the reintroductionof charismatic species such as Ibex,Gazelle, Vultures, etc.

• A crossroads for bird migration,strategically located on the routesbetween Europe, Africa, and WestAsia.

Environmental Highlights

• 620 hectares of Cedar forest -the largest expanse of this speciesin Lebanon and 30% of theremaining cedar forests in thecountry.

• The Reserve is the globallysouthern limit of Lebanon Cedar

• 520 species of plants, 25internationally and nationallythreatened species, and 48 plantsendemic to Lebanon

• 270 bird species recorded in theBiosphere Reserve, many of whichare recorded from the Ammiqwetland.

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

VisionA 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 fromecosystems” (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2001). Thoseinclude1- Provisioning services such as food, water, wood, plants and otherraw materials;2- Regulating services such as flood control;3- Supporting services such as prevention of soil erosion, pollinationof crops and water purification;4- Cultural services such as tourism, recreational and culturalbenefits.

Based on a review of available data, quick surveys, and discussionswith the reserve management team and concerned stakholders, thestudy focuses on five ecosystems services

Not calculated

1. CarbonThe 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 (Years2014 - 2023) @ $ 0.2 / briquette

$200,000 - $1,000,000

Seed production (commercial nurseries)

Contribution of SBR seeds to two commercialplant 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 ServicesThe SBR provides 1000s of hectares of rangeland that play an importantrole in the provision of feed to animals (12,500 heads). The reserve alsosupports the production and marketing of branded products (prepared bylocal women in communal workshops), as well as increased honeyproduction by providing cleaner pastures (no pesticides and limitedgrazing).

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. TourismThe SBR has become a preferred destination for rural tourism. Visitors(about 60,000-70,000 per year) are benefiting from improved services andfacilities most of which was made possible through donations and grants(about $2.2 million in 10 years). Conventional restaurants and hotelshave 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 ServicesThe patrimonial value of the iconic cedar tree is priceless. Books andtales have been written about this species and its presence in Lebanon(Memoirs of a Cedar: A history of deforestation – A future ofconservation). The appeal of the SBR has triggered several programsincluding the “Cedar Loan” to support SMEs and the “Adopt A Cedar TreeProgram”.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 StudyThe 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!

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