Hima for Peace

The traditional Hima concept was until now deployed to facilitate the sustainable use of natural resources, based on empowering local, traditional knowledge, culture and livelihood. This project seeks to expand the Hima concept into the realms of conflict resolution.

About the project

Hima is a traditional system of resource tenure that has originated in the Arabian Peninsula 1500 years ago. Since 2004, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) has been working on revitalizing and reviving the Hima approach to promote the conservation of Important Bird & Biodiversity Areas through the sustainable use of natural resources. Hima so far has been used as a community-led ecosystem-based approach for the protection of biodiversity. The “Hima for Peace” project aims to adapt this traditional approach from a tool for biodiversity protection to an instrument for conflict resolution. The “Hima for Peace” approach is supposed to be community-led and -managed, so that the potential for conflict among users of natural resources is significantly reduced.

Who organizes and supports the project?

The Society for Protecting Nature in Lebanon was established in 1986, to advocate the establishment of protected areas. Since 2005, SPNL works with the Hima approach and developed a total of 25 Himas in Lebanon. SPNL has widely contributed to both raising awareness on environmental issues and concretely protecting natural areas in Lebanon.

The World Conservation Union (IUCN) has a global support program on traditional knowledge and community engagement, which aims to catalyze and support efforts at various levels to protect, promote and use traditional knowledge and community engagement to strengthen conservation and sustainable development.

Your contact person

Soumar Dakdouk
Society for Protecting Nature in Lebanon
Phone+961 3 848 968
e-mail to Soumar Dakdouk