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Joint committee advances law to protect nature reserves
A joint parliamentary committee Wednesday approved draft legislation establishing a national framework for nature reserves.
The Protected Areas Law aims to stipulate measures to protect the environment through organizing the administration and funding of nature reserves, Environment Committee rapporteur MP Qassem Hashem told The Daily Star.
Deputy Speaker Elie Ferzli described the proposed legislation as “extremely important for environmental protection,” because it gathers together in one law the regulation of nature reserves, which are subject to different classifications, according to the state-run National News Agency.
Environment Minister Fadi Jreissati last month vowed that he would work to protect all 15 of Lebanon’s nature reserves, local media reported at the time.
Environment Committee chair MP Marwan Hamadeh and Ferzli both expressed their hope that the law would be passed at Parliament’s next legislative session, which has not been scheduled yet.
The draft law was advanced at the end of a joint session between the committees of Environment; Finance and Budget; Administration and Justice; National Defense, Interior and Municipalities; and Affairs of the Displaced.