Enviromental Sustainability

Sustaining Wood Resources in Lebanon - 3ème BF - Ain Aar

As part of their ecology unit in 3ème (French Program), students inquire into the main global environmental challenges and explore the ways to mitigate or remediate them. This year, the focus was on wood resources. Students followed the 5E model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) to understand the causes and consequences of unsustainable wood exploitation. To further deepen their understanding, they welcomed Dr. Maya Nehmé, Director of the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative NGO (LRI), who explained to them the history of the wood resources’ exploitation in Lebanon throughout the years. Then, they visited a sustainably managed forest in Dalboun (Chouf) and a briquette factory to explore sustainable means of wood exploitation and alternatives for firewood.

Fighting the Lionfish - Grade 9 CPP - Ain Aar

As part of their ecology unit, students of Grade 9 CPP inquire into the direct and indirect effects of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystems’ health, specifically habitat fragmentation, introduction of non-native or invasive species, overharvesting, pollution, and climate change. This year, they focused on the threat inflicted by the Lionfish, an invasive species that’s currently causing severe damages to the mediterranean marine ecosystems, by altering their dynamics. Students welcomed Mrs. Jina Talj and Ms. Agnes Nohra from the NGO “Diaries of the Ocean’’, with whom they explored the different threats inflicted by this species on the Lebanese marine biodiversity and ecosystems. Students will be taking action on June 20th to contribute to fighting this invasive species. In collaboration with the NGO, they will remove the spines of caught lionfishes and donate them to a restaurant.