A Rocha Lebanon blog

Hiking through the Aammiq Wetland, by Terry Kleven

After a pleasant drive from Beirut through the mountains of Lebanon, our small party, led by Robert Pelgrim, arrived in the beautiful Bekaa valley in central Lebanon, and then we proceeded to one area of the valley which is a known as the Aammiq Wetland. There we were joined by a local guide named Faisel. 

The Aammiq Wetland is the largest remaining freshwater wetland in Lebanon, and along with the nearby Al-Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve, is designated as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The wetland is situated on the path of a major migratory bird highway. Spring and fall see many huge flocks overhead, often using the marsh as a stopover. It also has numerous animals, including the European Otter, Jungle Cats and Wild Boar.

On this late November day as we hiked through the wetland, the green trees and dense reeds of the swamplands were a pleasant reminder of its rich ecological value, yet the wetland could easily be taken over by farming or industrial interests. In stark contrast to the adjacent property which was littered with garbage, the wetland was clean and well-kept.

On a hill overlooking the wetland, we visited the new Aammiq eco-restaurant, a joint venture between A Rocha Lebanon, The Shouf Cedar Reserve and the Skaff Estate. A Rocha Lebanon, has been working with the land-owners and local communities to protect the wetlands for the past 15 years. Robert Pelgrim, a Dutch transplant to Lebanon with much experience in community development in the Middle East, is the newly-appointed National Director. As we walked through the wetland, enjoying the sights, we listened to Robert’s enthusiasm for A Rocha’s vision and support for the project which is an example of responsible, long-term stewardship of nature. I hope others will take the opportunity to discover this unique place in the Bekaa Valley.