e ABQUAR PRO! Alleviating Barriers to Quarries Rehabilitation in Lebanon BRIEF REPORT UIFEO4-TCY-RL-0040 -e BACKGROUD ALLEVIATING BARRIERS TO QUARRIES REHABILITATION IN LEBANON ABQUAR LIFE04:TCY-RI--0040 Bu“ Ever since its establishment in 1993, the Ministry of Environment (MoE) has been actively committed to promoting and managing the sustainability of natural and built environment, protecting natural resources and insuring a healthy living to all Lebanese. However, years of sporadic and inadequate mining and quarrying practices coupled with limited environmental legislations have resulted in a sheer number of non- rehabilitated pits and quarries with serious ecological and socio-economical impacts. Notwithstanding, there have been many governmental efforts aimed at organizing and controlling the quarrying industry in Lebanon. These efforts were culminated in 2002 in the promulgation of the decree 8803 concerned with the licensing, operation and management/rehabilitation of quarries as well as the establishment of a National Council for Quarries’. Esablshed in 2002 a8 per deise no. 8803/2009, the National Council for Quaris is presided by MoE and incudes 8 other public authorities: ) Ministry of Public Works and Transport DieeorateGeneraof Urban Panning) Ministry oflteiorand Municipalities (Decorate General of Administrations ard Loca Coun); 3) Ministry of nergy and Water; 4) Ministry of Public Health; 5) Ministry of Defence; 6) Ministry of Finance (Ditectorte Gener of Finance7) Ministry of Agriculture (Directorate of Raa Despite these efforts, many barriers continue to impede the implementation of a sustainable rehabilitation framework for quarries in Lebanon including: implicit institutional laws and policies that do not reinforce proper quarry management; lack of technical expertisein thequarryingsectorand the means and tools to control and monitor quarry rehabilitation at both the private and public levels; complex land tenure issues; and financial barriers mostly due to the lack of development in the industry and the nature of the local economy. Development; ard 8) Ministry of Clare (Ditetorate General of Archaeology) TAYMAN'S REPORT |ABQUAR-LIFEoq-TC¥-RI-0090) >e BACKGROUD | a From north to south, mountains to seashore, Lebanon is dappled with some 800 quarries/ pits of various types (aggregate, rock and sand) established with little consideration to the surrounding environment and causing: » Destruction of vegetation and natural habitats; » Permanent loss to biodiversity and natural resources; » Noise, visual and air pollution; » Pollution of groundwater and surface water resources; » Severe impacts on roads networks and soil stability; and » Loss of property value. In fact, astudy published in 2004 by the World Bank’ concerning the cost of environmental degradation that quarries annually reduce surrounding land values by 16-71% and apartments’ value by 16-45%. This is an equivalent of 0.1% of our national GDP or in monetary terms 14 to 16 millions $US per annum. If these quarry sites are not rehabilitated, their impact on the environment, local economy and public safety will linger. in Lebanon showed There is a need to develop a new legal, technical and financial framework not only for the licensing and operation of new quarries butalso forthe rehabilitation of non- operational abandoned quarries in Lebanon. Hence, ABQUAR! | World Bonk, Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program (METAP),"CostAssessment of Environmental Degradation = Caseof Lebanon and Toi, 2004 HE PROJECT ABQUAR - Alleviating Barriers. for Quarries Rehabilitation in Lebanon ‘The project extended over 30 months starting in March 2005 and ending in August 2007 and is financed by the European Commission through LIFE Third Countries Program (68.2% or €316,167) and the Ministry of Environment (31.8% or €147,425). It is managed and executed by the latter as per the grant approval decree# 14685/2005 with the external assistance of Earth Link and Advanced Resources Development (ELARD sal). AIMS & OBJECTIVES The project aimed at alleviating major barriers impeding the process of quarries rehabilitation in Lebanon, be they of legal/ institutional, technical, or financial nature. Im particular, the project looked at: » Evaluating and updating current institutional and legal frameworks for quarries; » Developing a GIS-based Decision Support System (DSS) as a tool for prioritization of quarriesrehabilitation, proposals and project monitoring; evaluation, TAYMAN'S REPORT |ABQUAR-LIFEoq-TC¥-RI-0090)AIMS & OBJECTIVES » Developing a national rehabilitation program for quarries; » Identifying financial mechanisms and economic incentives for quarry rehabilitation; » Strengthening institutional and human capacities through comprehensive training programs tailored to local needs; » Promoting public participation and awareness; » Communication and dissemination of project outcomes and results, ADDED VALUES & OUTCOMES: ‘The project has added many values and achieved substantial outcomes both at the local and national level: » Mapping quarries location and consolidating all sources of information and available records on quarries be they licensed or unlicensed, operational or inactive; » Development of a GIS-based layers and databases and a Decision Support System (DSS) to help visualizing and querying these data, prioritizing and making complex decisions about quarries rehabilitation; » Identification of capacity building needs of various concerned authorities and exposing key stakeholders to international experience through study tours and trainings; » Institutional and legal frameworks for quarries rehabilitation updated through new law; Capacity building needs of concerned institutions identified and their level of involvement and awareness improved; Institutional and human capacities strengthened and awareness improved; Barriers for implementation reviewed and measures to overcome them identified; Program for rehabilitation of quarries set and exposed, TAYMAN'S REPORT | ABQUAR-IN ‘og-TCPRI-0040 ee INSITUTIONS INVOLVED ee Is WHO ° we COFUNDER ‘The European Commission- Financial Instrument for the Environment (EC-LIFE) introduced in1992, is oneof thespearheads of the European Union>s environmental policy. It co-finances environmental initiatives in the European Union and certain third countries bordering on the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea, and in those EU candidate countries that have decided to participate. Projects in three areas: LIFE Nature, LIFE Environment, LIFE-Third Countries. LIFE-Third Countries concerns technical activities for promoting sustainable development in third countries. This component of the program supports the development of environmental management capacities, both for our administrative partnersoutside the Unionand for companies and NGOs in those countries. assistance For more information on visit: LIFE. program hitp://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/ life/home.htm BENEFICIARY/COFUNDER ‘The Ministry of Environment (MoE), established in 1993, is a public institution committed to the conservation of Lebanon's environment, its natural heritage and the health and well-being of all citizens. Be it natural or built, protecting the environment essentially entails (1) conserving its natural resources ensuring their sustainability, (2) raising environmental awareness by creating partnership with privateand publicindustries alike, and (3) promoting clean production and green attitudes, As a Beneficiary and Co-funder, MoE was directly involved in the full management, supervision and technical implementation of the Project and so it provided full time focal points toassure day to dayassistanceensuring that the project reaches its set objectives and respects both national and EC regulations. For more information on MoE visit: http://www.moe.govlb TAYMAN'S REPORT |ABQUAR-LIFEoq-TC¥-RI-0090) eS noon ncMETHODOLOGY MM" With over 1,000 orphan quarries scattered all over its territory, Lebanon is suffering an irreversible damage to its natural resources, be they air, soil, water or natural/ cultural heritage. There is an urgent need to rehabilitate! Three major barriers to rehabilitation were identified and constituted the axes along which the Project was developed. These are: 1. Legal/institutional Barriers; 2. Technical Barriers; 3. Financial Barriers. The project was organized around 6 key tasks and associated activities. These are: Task. Project Mobilization: » Set the office; » Prepare inception report; » Identify major stakeholders; » Expose the project. Task.2 Review Existing Framework For Quarries Rehabilitation In Lebanon And International Experience: » Review the legal framework; » Review the Institutional framework; » Assess responsibilities and capacities of institutions and identify gaps and overlaps; » Exposekeystakeholderstointernational experience; Task3 Develop A GIS-Based Decision Support System (DSS): » Update quarries survey; » Setup criteria for prioritization of quarries rehabilitation; » Develop matching criteria for identification of best rehabilitation practices based on quarries characteristics; » Organize meetings with — major stakeholders (including quarries owners) to include their feedback in carly stages of DSS development; » Design of user-friendly interface and powerful graphical capabilities to facilitate evaluation and monitoring of rehabilitation plans; ‘Task. Identify Barriers And Develop Measures To Overcome Them: » Alleviate institutional and legal barriers by updating and drafting appropriate legislation setting a new framework for quarries rehabilitation; » Alleviate financial barriers by. developing a system of incentives to quarry owners; » Alleviate technical barriers by conducting a series of capacity building sessions targeting major stakeholders _ TAYMAN'S REPORT |ABQUAR-LIFEoq-TC¥-RI-0090) e6 RESULTS & OUTPUTS focusing on rehabilitation techniques, specifications, project _ monitoring, surveying and others. Tasks Develop Implementation Program: » Setup a program for quarries rehabilitation based on prioritizations system and DSS; » Develop the administrative setup for proposals reception, evaluation, monitoring, final approval of works and project archiving. Task.6 Communicate And Disseminate Practices » Design awareness. campaigns to encourage quarry owners in rehabilitating the quarries and informing about government rehabilitation program » Involve the stakeholders in identifying and_ prioritizing the rehabilitation program R ‘Task. Project Mobilization ‘SULTS & OUTPUTS. In the presence of both partners with the EC represented by the head of EC delegation in Lebanon H.E. Mr. Patrick Renauld and The MoE represented by the Minister of Environment H. E, Mr. Yacoub Sarraf and in presence of the Director General of Environment Dr. Berj Hatjian, the Project was launched in a national event in December 2005, The event took place in the «Green Conference Room» at MoE, Concerned stakeholders from line ministries, public agencies, environmental consulting firms, associations, and syndicates, academics, international organizations, quarries owners and operators, and many others were among, the invitees. A project brief including environmental legislation pertaining to quarries operation and rehabilitation was disseminated at the event. The Project website was also launched during this event. To visit the Project's website go to: http://www.moe.gov.lb/ABQU TAYMAN'S REPORT |ABQUAR-LIFEoq-TC¥-RI-0090) eACHIEVED RESULTS Task.2 Revi w Of Existing Framework For Quarries Rehabilitation In Lebanon » Reviewing Existing Legal Framework: in order to identify gapsand overlaps in the legal framework, a SWOT analysis were conducted on all legislations pertaining to quarrying in general and rehabilitation in particular were reviewed which were also compared with those of Malta, Cyprus, Tunisia, Algeria, France, England, and Canada. » Reviewing Institutional Roles and Mandates: The roles of all concerned authorities namely those who sit on board of the National Council for Quarries were evaluated by analyzing their mandates through personal interviews of stakeholders’ representatives. » Assessment of Responsibilities and Capacities of Institutions and Identification of Gaps and Overlaps: stakeholder interviews also helped. identify the current practices. A responsibilities matrix was used to identify the gaps and overlaps in the institutional set-up for quarry rehabilitation, rehabilitation » Exposing Key Stakeholders to European Experience: a study tour and training on quarries rehabilitation was organized for 4 MoE team members in collaboration with the Institute of Ecopreneurship at the Northwestern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland from November 13 ~ 22, 2006. The training was aimed at exposing key stakeholders to best rehabilitation practices through training and site visits of successfully rehabilitated quarries. The 10 days program covered: a. Workshops on land use planning; assessment of quarries environmental impacts; best rehabilitation practices for quarries including guidelines and demonstrating for international case studies from Latin America and Spain; b, Workshops on the use, planning and monitoring of quarries as landfills and the quarries as well as an overview of environmental legislations specific to quarries rehabilitation and the role of environmental agencies in monitoring and reinforcing quarries regulations; rehabilitation of contaminated © Workshop on the planning and management approach for a national rehabilitation program for Lebanon; d Site visits of various rehabilitated quarries around Zurich, Bern, Basel and Liechtenstein. Task3 Develop A GIS-Based Decision Support System (DSS) » Updating Quarries Survey: several limited surveys had been conducted for various research and development purposes prior to ABQUAR; however, TAYMAN'S REPORT |ABQUAR-LIFEoq-TC¥-RI-0090) ®ACHIEVED RESULTS no complete records on quarries in Lebanon were available. A review of available data led to the identification and acquisition of 475 records which were then validated and consolidated into a GIS-based database. ‘This was done in a two-steps survey: (1) Desk Survey: using GIS tools, a desk survey of high definition satelliteimages (60-to-80 cm) was conducted. This way all sites of quarries or pits visible on the digital map were scanned and their geographical location and characteristics were also identified. (2) Field Survey: then using a stratified sampling, a field survey wascarried out with a dual objective to (a) acquire new information on unlicensed /illicit quarries and (b) validate data acquired through desk survey. ‘An inventory sheet (ie, ID card) was designed for that purpose including all administrative, environmental, technical and financial parameters required by MoE, mann ne » Developing Prioritization Criteria for Quarries. Rehabilitation: given the sheer number of non-rehabilitated quarries in Lebanon, a prioritization system was necessary to identify those sitesthat posethe highest threat tothe environment and public alike. Twenty criteria and associated parameters were identified and validated through public and concerned stakeholders participation and which can be classified into 4 main categories: TAYMAN'S REPORT |ABQUAR-LIFEoq-TC¥-RI-0090) ee ACHIEVED RESULTS Impact: (1) on land values, (2) on water resources, (3) on air, (4) on ecology, (5) on tourist and cultural resources, (6) soil erosion, (7) in-situ pollution, (8) visual impact; Site Safety: (9) proximity to sensitive receptors, (10) geologic stability, (1) prone to land or mudslides; Future Land-use: (12) surrounding (e.g., agriculture, residential, industrial, etc,), (13) quarry location; Feasibility: (14) quarry size, (15) land ownership (public/private), (16) existing rehabilitation activity, (7) potential for natural re-vegetation, (18) clustering conditions, (19) availability of funds, (20) ease of rehabilitation. Identification of Best Rehabilitation Practices: not only did the Project set-up a system for prioritizing the rehabilitation of more than 800 orphaned quarries but it also reviewed and identified the most appropriate rehabilitation practices by comparing practices in a number of successfully rehabilitated quarries from around the world. A set of guidelines and parametersnecessary forthe design and implementation of quarries rehabili- tation programs specific to each type of quarries in Lebanon was put together. The set of parameters identified were then coded into a DSS module which was designed to look into specific records and available GIS information to suggest for each quarry a list of most appropriate rehabilitation types. ‘The rehabilitation practices reviewed ranged from complete restoration, to landfills, to lakes, agricultural or residential after-uses, to recreational or touristic sites, etc. Development of a GIS-Based DSS: with the aim of strengthening the local technical capacitiesat MoE, aGIS-based Decision Support System (DSS) was developed as a tool to assist in making, complex decisions regarding evaluation and monitoring the operation and rehabilitation of quarries. It is built around an open and user-friendly interface which allows decision-makers to make the most out of it. It has also powerful graphical capabilities such as delivering and plotting information very quickly in such visual manner that would effectively guidedecision-makers at each step of quarries operation and rehabilitation planning. TheDSSallowstheusertoenter, modify, and view information on a selected quarry simultaneously on a GIS maps, browse through photographs of the quarry, as well as access information on the quarry such as the name of the operator, quarry type, and other relevant information. The user can also view and print out prioritization and rehabilitation reports. TAYMAN'S REPORT |ABQUAR-LIFEoq-TC¥-RI-0090)Task.4 Identify The DSS is now being fully used by team members of the Department of the Protection of Natural Resources ~ Service of Conservation of Nature who are employing its full GIS capabilities! Barriers And Develop Measures To Overcome Them 10 » Alleviating Institutional and Legal Barriers: one of the key barriers to quarries rehabilitation in Lebanon as identified by both public and private stakeholders alike was/is an unstable legal and institutional system that generally managesthemining of natural resources. Thus based the findings of Task.2, the review of existing legal and institutional framework for quarries and associated consultation meetings, a modern comprehensive ‘Law for Quarries’ was drafted taking into account the issues raised by all concerned parties, addressing the overlaps and the gaps identified in the current legal framework. This draft-law is being now reviewed by the division of Legal Affairs at the Registry of the Directorate General of Environment. » Alleviating Financial Barriers: in order to alleviate the financial barriers, an analysis of existing financing mechanisms for quarry rehabilitation in Lebanon was conducted and the general framework was compared with that of France, Malta, Algeria, United Kingdom, Canada, and Cyprus and so strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) were identified and highlighted Itwas recommended that rehabilitation of abandoned quarries be financed through new levies on aggregates and other quarries’ production as well as on. all government-industry partnerships; whereas, the cost for the rehabilitation of operational quarries would be incurred by the quarry owner/operator per se by securing a bank guarantee respectively to the quarry type, size and total production. Financial incentives were developed and existing taxation, fees and bonds were also evaluated and recommendations made. » Alleviating Technical Barriers:anumber of participatory and stakeholders meetings that were organized throughout the Project helped identify the capacity building needs of all stakeholders regarding all aspects of quarries operation and rehabilitation, be they legal, technical or financial, concerned Based on these needs assessments, a capacity building program tailored for the needs of all those institution and local authorities that may be directly or otherwise involved in alll steps from licensing, to monitoring, to closure and rehabilitation of quarries. However, TAYMAN'S REPORT [ABQUARCLIFBoq-TC¥-RI-o090) ®e ACHIEVED RESULTS Task.s Developing an the prevailing conditions in Lebanon did not allow for such a program to be implemented. Implementation Program The prioritization system and the DSS were used to develop a first priority national rehabilitation program to go in line with the program-law for rehabilitation of the national financial budget for 2006 forwarded by Couneil of Mii ster to Parliament by the Decision# 31 dated 1/12/2005, A number of sites were identified as most pressing quarries to be rehabilitated according to the following criteria: Type of exploitation; Environmental and visual impa‘ Impact on public safety; |. Proximity to natural resources (water springs, protected areas, wetlands, rivers, ete.); Proxit y to residential areas; Availability of an impact assessment study for the site; Land ownership; Geographical location; 9. Willingness rehabilitate; of owner/operator to 10.Proximity to archaeological or touristic sites; 1, Site location and its effectiveness in acting as a successful rehabilitation model and a means to raise public n2.Land-use planning and _ potential (landfill, agricultural land, etc.); after-use water reservoir, 13, Availability of funds. These sites are: » Msaylha-Batroun: criteria 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, and u; » Hadath Jibbeh-Bcharreh: criteria, 3, 4, 8,n, and 13; » Ain Zhalta: criteria, 3, 4,7, 8, and u; » Zighidraya-Sidon: criterias, 3, 6,7, 8,11, x, and 13; » Jouwaya“Iyr: criterias, 3, 4,7, 8, and n. A. rehabilitation procedure was also drafted as part of the implementation program which is yet to be validated and approved. ‘Task.6 Communication & Dissemination » Public Participatory Meetings: in a series of more than 12 participatory meetings organized on both the local and national level, general public, academics, NGOs, local councils, local administrations and stakeholders all participated in identifying the top national issues, challenges and barriers and associated impact facing the quarrying sector in Lebanon, These TAYMAN'S REPORT |ABQUAR-LIFEoq-TC¥-RI-0090)e ACHIEVED RESULTS meetings were also used to assess the capacity building needs of concerned institutions through __ personal interviews, and in other cases to steer some public debate and solicit peoples’ y evaluation of the prioritization criteria identified » Exposing the DSS: one-day training on the use of the DSS was organized at MoE to project management team and team members alike. The training included a brief presentation on thevariousmodules of the DSS and focused on practical_hands- on demonstration of the system’s data entry, processing and isualization capabilities. » Dissemination of Key Information:aseriesof national and regional events were planned to disseminate the Project's outputs and validate them through a public participation approach; however due to current prevailing unfavorable environment in the country, these activities were suspended. However, theMinistryof Environment is fully committed to advance, sustain and disseminate the Project's outcomes as soon as the prevailing conditions permit again, particularly because ABQUAR addresses one of the top pressing environmental issues as perceived by the public in Lebanon. from the Service of Conservation of Nature, Department of Protection of Natural Resources. These reports are also available electronically from the Project’s website: » All Progress, Interim and Final Reports as hetp://wwwamoe.gov:lb/ ABQUAR a well asall technical reportsare available TAYMAN'S REPORT |ABQUAR-LIFEoq-TC¥-RI-0090) | meron = e nome unmet |ACHIEVED RESULTS TAYMAN'S REPORT |ABQUAR-LIFEoq-TC¥-RI-0090) e— > ABQUAR PROJECT LIFE04-TCY-RL-0040 Ministry of Environment Lararieh Center, Bloc A~4 P.O.Box. 11-2727, Beirut, Lebanon Tel. 01-976555 or 4-Digit Number: 1789 Ext. 456 Fax. 01-976530 e ‘www.moe.gov.lb/ABQUAR