Just two kilometres away from Batroun lies Kfarabida, and the village’s own captivating caves. A big draw for tourists and one of Lebanon’s natural treasures, these caves are in danger of being destroyed. ‘Shores of Development,’ a local real estate company, is planning a major construction of villas and chalets – a project that will result in the destruction of a large portion of the shore and the caves. What’s more, the marine life living in the area will also be adversely affected. When the project was announced, a number of locals wrote in letters of complaint, but with no law to protect the caves, it will take a lot more than a few letters to save this beautiful piece of Kfarabida. Those living in the region are admittedly eager to see their region develop economically,
but not at the cost of their natural and historic sites and resources.

The caves are actually under review to potentially become a National Reserve and as such, they would be protected. With this in mind, a number of groups, including the Lebanese Citizens and Friends of Nature, Friends of the Shores of Kfarabida, the Consortium of Ecology Clubs of Northern Lebanon, and Supporters of the Marine Natural Habitat of the Mediterranean, have come together to form a petition to protect the shore and the caves from destruction. The goal is to withhold construction until the Natural Reserve is created, thereby preventing destruction. So take a few minutes out of your busy schedule and reach out to help protect a beautiful piece of Lebanon’s environment. Sign the online petition now:

www.ipetitions.com/petition/savethecaveslebanon/