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lNo.30 spring11 The Newsletter of Ibsar, the Nature Conservation Center for Sustainable Futures

Dr. Lina Choueiri For a green approach to language

We all love nature, don’t we? And here, at AUB, we de-clare our love of nature publicly through Ibsar, AUB’s Nature Conservation Center for Sustainable Futures. It is a major objective of Ibsar to promote nature con-servation by raising our awareness of the surprising biological diversity that surrounds us. By understand-ing the diversity of our biological environment, we can work better and more responsibly to preserve it.

As Ibsar’s various programs also reveal to us, biodiversity is intertwined with local culture(s) and practices. The loss of local flora, fauna, and the destruction of ecosystems usually implies the loss of associated traditional knowledge systems, beliefs, and values. In turn, local languages, which serve to encode and transmit these knowledge systems, beliefs, and values, can be lost. While language loss can result from the loss of knowledge and cultural practices that it serves to convey, language loss can also result in the loss of associated knowledge and cultural practices. In fact, research has shown that language vitality and the vitality of biological diversity are fundamentally linked, and that the loss of a language has a negative impact on biodiversity conservation. Thus, by supporting linguistic diversity, we also support biological diversity.

References: Lewis, M. Paul (ed.), 2009. Ethnologue: Languages of the World, Sixteenth edition. Dallas, Tex.: SIL International. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com/.

We live in a (surprisingly?) linguistically diverse region. In order to realize this fact, we need to go beyond what we were taught in school and what we read in the mass media. Let me discuss an example close to home. Ethnologue, an encyclopedic work cataloging all of the world’s 6,909 known living languages, lists 6 living languages that can be found in Lebanon: North Levantine Arabic (spoken), Standard Arabic, Armenian, English, French, and Northern Kurdish. In addition to those 6 languages, Ethnologue lists 3 immigrant languages: Assyrian Neo-Aramaic, Chaldean Neo-Aramaic, and Turoyo. Chaldean Neo-Aramaic alone has more speakers in Lebanon than either English or French. Who knew that? Most of us have been educated in institutions that do not take an active role in the promotion of linguistic diversity. On the contrary, within the local context, those languages have been perceived as threats to the national language, Standard Arabic. From the perspective of biodiversity conservation, each of those languages is associated with different ethnic groups, with oral traditions, taxonomies, naming practices that result in complex classification systems of the (natural) world. It is by opening up to the richness of this linguistic heritage that we will begin to understand the traditional knowledge systems associated with each of those languages. By understanding the local linguistic diversity, we can work better towards conserving it, and conserving our natural habitat.

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Ibsar participates in AUB’s Annual Civic & Volunteering Fair

The Center for Civic En-gagement and Community Service (CCECS) at AUB in collaboration with the Of-fice of Students Affairs and the Student Representative Committees organized the Annual Civic and Volunteer-ing Fair on Wednesday April 27th and Thursday April 28th near and around West Hall at AUB. More than 30NGOs and centers from within and outside AUB participated in this event. Ibsar’s stand was among the most attractive stands. Along with pictures of its various events and activities, the stand had lots of pictures, taglines, and logos of its six current programs: Nature Conservation, Exploring Medicinal Properties in Living Organisms, Power of Planting, Food and Biodiversity, Nature Lab, and IBDAA.

The event stressed on the importance of civil society and community service while highlighting the significance of volunteering among AUB students. Various visitors from inside and outside AUB visited the numerous stands.

Ibsar members were distributing Ibsar brochures, Ibsar’s Orchid bookmarks and booklets, as well as Ibsar’s planting manual. Visitors of the stand were also given the opportunity to ‘literally’ hang their names or words on a tree installed at the stand for this occasion as a token of love and appreciation for nature. In addition to that, visitors also got the chance to plant a seed of Pinus Pinea (Pine) in a customized pot made out of painted, reused plastic water bottles. Directions and instructions to preserve the continuity of the seed, sustain its livelihood, and nurse it into a tree, were distributed in the form of small cards plastered on small colored wooden sticks. Ibsar gave a presentation on the various possibilities of volunteering with Ibsar in three specific programs: Days of Science, Power of Planting, and Nature Conservation.

“Have you planted a SEED lately?” volunteer’s station

Project Coordinator Miriam Mattouk at Ibsar’s booth during Volunteer Fair

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The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) holds workshop in Beirut

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) organized its third regional capacity-building workshop in Beirut on May 2-7, 2011. The workshop was held in collaboration with the Lebanese Ministry of Environment and the Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA), and was with the financial support of the Government of Japan. The aim of the workshop was to revise and update the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs).

Ibsar was among the 32 participants from 17 countries who attended the workshop. Other participants included people from a variety of institutions such as the Lebanese American University of Beirut (LAU), the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries from Egypt, Tamunt n Iffus from Morocco, SPNL from Lebanon, IUN-CEC, UNEP-ROWA, the League of Arab States, and the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Holding a biodiversity convention allows various institutions, organization, and centers to network, build bridges, and share their experiences and expertise. The main focus of the workshop revolved around ways to develop appropriate targets and identify “stakeholders, activities, and resources” needed to realize these targets by the year 2020. Part of CBD’s major objectives is the mainstreaming of biodiversity. This initiative was taken to practice in Lebanon through a one-day field trip to Tannourine Cedar Reserve, organized by the Lebanese Ministry of Environment. The aim of this trip was to investigate the potential of integrating a protected area into “the broader multiple-use landscape as an example of mainstreaming ecosystem services,” as a CBD report later stated.

The workshop was concluded with the adaptation of a set of targets aligned with CBD’s strategic plan to be accomplished by 2012, a revised set of NBSAPs, as well as effective entries into force of Protocols, decisions, and the sharing of experiences, expertise, knowledge, practices, and technologies to support the main objectives of the convention.

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During CBD workshop

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On May 20th, and in celebration of the International Biodiversity Day for the 5th consecutive year, Ibsar held the International Biodiversity Day at AUB (IBDAA) which has become a tradition over the years. Year after year, Ibsar has been able to witness the increasing enthusiasm with which students, professors, and staff are getting involved altogether in nature conservation. Around 167 students from the departments of Agribusiness, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental & Public Health, and Landscape Design & Ecosystem Management, participated in this event by presenting their works and research in a poster forum. IBDAA’s advisory board members served as the jury and voted their favorite research or project after visiting and talking with the participants in the forum. At the end of the event, the winning project, research idea, and the best product were announced and certificates presented and distributed to the winners.

The new addition to this year’s IBDAA is the launching of “Ibsar Boutique.” The Boutique included five products inspired by students’ class projects and optimized by IBDAA team. The products included: Sanitizers, Air Fresheners, Insect Repellants, Detergents, and Perfumes. The Boutique was highly successful and was met with enthusiasm. Aside from the said products, Ibsar-designed notebooks and pottery mugs were also sold on an attractive wooden cart whose interior was made of recycled material. The cart was donated by Mr. Ziad Abi Chaker who is a current member of Ibsar and consultant for Ibsar Boutique products.

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Ibsar team selling products on Ibsar Boutique cart in IBDAA 2011

Close-ups of Ibsar B

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l Ibsar Holds Forest Film Festival to celebrate the International Year of Forests, 2011

In collaboration with the International Forest Film Festival (IFFF) which was organized by the United Nations Film Festival and the Jackson Wildlife Film Festival, Ibsar held a forest film screening, in June, on four different days targeting different audiences: School Students (June 2nd, 2011), AUB faculty and staff (June 6th), Lebanese writers (June 22nd, 2011), and professionals and students of Media and Communications (Oct. 29th, 2011).

The aim of this festival was to celebrate the International Year of Forests, 2011, as proclaimed by the United Nations, through film, by raising awareness to the effects of climate change, global warming, and other man-induced threats to forests, nature, and man’s wellbeing.

While the first two screenings exposed the said effects on human life, the last two further stressed this point through discussions held after the screening. The session scheduled for Lebanese writers included a screening and discussion of the significant role played by writers in nature conservation. Attendees laid out different points of view in this regard stressing the importance of a humanistic relationship between nature and writer while others believed that the word, no matter the audience, can be strong enough to affect change and mobilization towards nature conservation. They agreed that awareness, which should begin at an early age, is still lacking in Lebanon. Not many books, children and adult alike, about nature or nature conservation exist in Lebanon and the region. In addition to academic books, which tackle this issue from a scientific perspective, attendees agreed that stories and narratives about and for nature should be present in larger quantities and varieties.

The organization of this event was made possible with the support of United States Forest Services (USFS) and USAID.

The session scheduled for professionals of Media and Communications was postponed till October 29th, 2011 to coincide with the tree planting season. This session took place within the 16th Annual International Conference of the Arab-US Association of Communication Educators (AUSACE) Conference, titled: “Digital And Media Literacy: New Directions.” The session included the screening of 1 minute clips from four different FFF films, as well as a small lunch. This session gave Ibsar the opportunity to reach out to regional and international media outlets and promote a collaboration and interference from the Media to aid in raising awareness and mobilizing people towards conservation.

Award winning Forest Film screened during Ibsar’s Forest Film Festival

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Ibsar launched its Biodiversity Village Award (BVA) or “Baldati Beati” under the program Power of Planting and in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior: Directorate of Departments and Local Councils, on June 9th, 2011 at the Commodore Hotel, Hamra. This project, which is funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation, was conceived to stress the significant contribution of villages to nature conservation through various local environmental efforts and actions. During the first year of the project, 18 villages will participate in a competition on account of their previous reforestation collaborations with the center. The participating towns along with the Ibsar team will engage in participatory mapping workshops which will guide village communities through a self-assessment process resulting in the development of green village portfolios. These portfolios will include environmental, social, and cultural layers of the town. A jury consisting of AUB faculty members from various disciplines will evaluate the portfolios and select the winning town.

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Left to right: Ibsar Director, Dr. Najat A. Saliba, Representative of the General Director of Municipalities, Mrs. Eliane Al-Galakh, Head of the Coca Cola Foundation, Mr. Antoine Tayyar,

Principle Investigator Dr. Salma Talhouk, Ms. Lama Tawk & Ms. Carol Itani

Invitees, members and representatives of municipalities, and media personnel

Project booklet distributed to participating municipalities during BVA workshop

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In October, Ibsar will hold a ceremony in honor of the participating towns. The ceremony will include the display of the villages’ green maps and will feature a documentary detailing the natural resources and riches of each participating village, after which the name of the winning towns will be announced and a village festival will be organized in that town one month later, in November. The center aims to organize this competition on an annual basis through an open application procedure to support an increasing number of communities.

From Left to right: Dr. Khaled Takieddine, Head of Ras El Matn municipality; Mr. Nazih Amareddine, member of the municipality of Meshmesh Akkar

Members of the municipality of Meshmesh with Ibsar Project Coordinator Lama Tawk, at work on the village’s green map

Baldati Beati toolbox

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Ibsar Holds End of Year Gathering

To celebrate the end of the Academic Year 2010-2011, Ibsar held an End of Year Gathering on June 17th, 2011 in the presence of Ibsar Advisory Board Member and President of Earth University, Dr. Jose Zaglul. The gathering was also attended by Ibsar members, including Ibsar Director and AUB Chemistry Professor, Dr. Najat A. Saliba, as well as faculty members and Research Assistants (RAs). The gathering assumed a casual tone whereby attendees enjoyed food, drink, and enjoyable conversations. Provost Ahmad Dallal attended the gathering supporting Ibsar’s efforts, progress, and agenda. Words of appreciation for Dr. Zaglul’s presence and involvement in Ibsar were exchanged amongst an amiable atmosphere in which everyone enjoyed the opportunity to mingle and get acquainted with one another.

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Provost Ahmad Dallal, President of Earth University Dr. Jose Zaghlul, and Dr. Najat A. Saliba

Ibsar staff and members during the gathering

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Under the program Nature ConVersation, Ibsar held its first exhibition of Nature-themed photographs. The exhibition took place at the Saifi Urban Gardens in Gemmayzeh between the 18th and the 21st of July, 2011. The exhibition, funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation, featured 30 photographs taken by twenty 7 to 17 year old girls and boys from the villages of Aarsal, Barouk, Ain Zebde, Michmich, Deir el Zahrani and Damour. Each photograph was accompanied by a descriptive narrative written by the youths themselves.

The exhibition was the fruitful outcome of a workshop which was organized by Nature ConVersation Project Coordinator, Miriam Mattouk, and was attended by the youths. The photographs were intended to illustrate creative interpretations of personal experiences by the children. Gripping pictures and breath-taking narratives were pronounced on white walls amidst awed viewers. Twelve year old Cherin is one example among many who articulated their relationship with nature; she wrote:

Exhibition visitors were surprised and amazed by the caliber of the exhibited photographs. The exhibition lasted 4 days and included live painting and music. On Wednesday July 18th, 2011 a press conference was held in the presence of the children who got the chance to view their own work on display. The exhibition gave a chance to the participating children to express themselves and their love for nature and allowed the visitors to have a glimpse of nature through the children’s eyes.

The aim of Nature Captured program is to involve children in environmental awareness campaigns and encourage them to use artistic mediums, such as photography, to share personal messages with their society. It is hoped that the program will have a positive and long-lasting effect on the children to feel empowered in affecting change in their own perception of nature and that of their peers as well as in their relationship with their direct environment.

The heart screamed, pain bestowed on the sight of your piercing sun rays, you caused a fiery revolution that crossed the planet, and from your blossoming care you gave the moon with its smooth light to guide us through the dark night, this light that melted in the waters of the violent oceans, its core building with fury and anger so its waters rise holding golden threads reflecting your warm rays and from the overflowing light you offer me passion engraved in my heart for nature.

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The young artists of Nature Captured viewing & discussing their own work on display

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Send your news, articles, and editorial comments to

Ibsar@aub.edu.lb.

Visit the Ibsar website at www.Ibsar.org.

Edited by Dr. Najat Aoun Saliba and Farah Aridi

Designed by Layal Jradi © 2011

Pictures taken by Nature Captured’s young talents during workshop and displayed in Saifi Urban Gardens, Gemayzeh