Biodiversity on the Front : Water Challenges

Date

27 September 2025 starting 6 PM

Location

Bsharri Technical School, Bsharri, Lebanon

Water is vital to life in Lebanon, yet it faces growing threats from pollution, scarcity, and climate change. On 27 September 2025, REEF, in partnership with Bsharri Technical School, invites youth, civil society, NGOs, and local and national authorities to an event dedicated to the protection of Qornet as Sawda and the Cedars and their surrounding water resources. This event is a series of an engaging impact tour in Lebanon aimed at tackling critical biodiversity issues directly with affected communities using the power of cinema storytelling.

Environmental Careers Presentation

The session will highlight opportunities in Lebanon’s growing green sector, including water management, conservation, renewable energy, waste management, and eco-tourism. Participants will learn how youth can contribute to protecting biodiversity and water resources while gaining insights on employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in the environmental field.

Film Screening: “Along the Water”

Filmmaker Rebecca Tawk takes viewers on a reverse journey of water, starting at the mouth of the Abou Ali River in Tripoli and traveling upstream through the Qannoubin Valley and the Cedars, culminating at Qornet as Sawda, the highest peak in the Middle East. Along the way, four individuals—Samir, Hisham, Antoine, and Ghiwa—interact with different landscapes, revealing the challenges water and nature face and illustrating the profound cultural, ecological, and emotional connection humans share with the environment.

Panel Discussion & Debate

Experts and local voices including environmental activists, a water specialist, a career orientation expert, and a municipality representative will explore the key challenges and opportunities in protecting Qornet as Sawda and its water systems. Topics will include the mountain’s role as a water source and biodiversity hub, reforestation and climate resilience, pollution and sewage management, and the role of communities and authorities in sustainable planning and long-term stewardship.

Event Agenda

The event features a series of activities designed to inform, inspire, and engage participants:

- 6:00 PM – Environmental Careers Presentation
- 7:00 PM – Film Screening: “Along the Water”
- 7:30 PM – Panel Discussion & Debate
- 9:00 PM – Networking Session

Entrance is free but prior registration is required through this link