Sample_Work-plan_LRI.pdf

US Forest Service and

US Agency for International Development/Lebanon

Lebanon Reforestation Initiative

Sample Work-Plan

USFS Contacts:

A. Background and Introduction

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the US Forest Service (USFS) have cooperated since 2008 to promote conservation of forests and biodiversity in Lebanon. Through support and partnership with USAID, the USFS has cooperated with governmental and nongovernmental counterpart organizations in Lebanon to help conserve Lebanon’s biodiversity and forests. In 2008 and 2009, the USFS implemented programs in Lebanon focused on wildfire coordination and response, general capacity building, munitions remediation and fire risk mapping, and biodiversity conservation.

Since 2010, the Forest Service and USAID/Lebanon have been engaged with forestry sector institutions and practitioners, national and nongovernmental organizations, and local municipalities to build capacity at the practitioner and grassroots level to sustainably reforest Lebanon, to provide short-term employment in poverty-stricken and environmentally degraded regions of the country, and to help prevent and respond to wildfires that threaten the country’s forests and communities. The following document outlines a conceptual framework for the program and the work plan. The Forest

Service is grateful for the opportunity to work closely with USAID to help protect and restore

Lebanon’s forests while also generating meaningful economic growth opportunities.

The Forest Service is a US government agency that manages 77 million hectares of national forests and grasslands on behalf of the American people, cooperatively supports forest management on state and private lands, and conducts scientific research on forest ecosystems. The agency has invested heavily in reforestation over the last century and has learned a great deal about planting a wide variety of species on a wide diversity of sites, including very dry and harsh areas. The agency has a long commitment to international cooperation, beginning with its first chief, Gifford Pinchot, who advocated for international engagement to both conserve natural resources and sustain rural livelihoods abroad. Pinchot often cited Lebanon’s cedars as a compelling example of a globally important treasure that would benefit from cooperative international conservation efforts. Today, the

Forest Service works around the world to achieve Pinchot’s vision, promote sustainable forest and grassland management, advance biodiversity conservation, and assist other nations in responding to natural disasters. The agency has a staff of over 35,000 employees with a wide range of technical management and research expertise.

Significance of Lebanon’s Forest Resources

The land that makes up the Republic of Lebanon has been noted for its rich forests since the area was dominated by the Phoenician civilization around 1000 BC. Today, forests cover approximately 13% of the total land area of Lebanon, making it one of the most forested countries by total percentage in the Middle East. Three sites in Lebanon have been designated as UNESCO biosphere reserves, underscoring the rich biodiversity of plant species within its forests. As a result of this richness, trees, and particularly the Lebanese cedar, have become a source of pride and a legitimate symbol of unity in an ethnically and religiously diverse country.

Lebanon’s forests provide many ecosystem services. In Lebanon’s mountainous terrain, trees decrease soil erosion and water runoff by stabilizing hill slopes and aiding in the infiltration of rainfall. These services promote the formation of thick, organic-rich soils and increase the availability of groundwater in local aquifers. Lebanese forests have earned the moniker “the lungs of the Near

East” in recognition of their ability to cleanse the air of pollutants and absorb carbon dioxide, a major contributor to global climate change.

Lebanese forests provide sustainable economic benefits both directly and indirectly. Directly, several native forest trees produce fruits and nuts that can be sold locally or internationally. Of these species, the Italian stone pine (Pinus pinea) and the carob (Ceratonia siliqua) are among the most important.

Indirectly, forests provide a host of other economic benefits by creating wildlife habitat and recreation areas. Beekeeping is a widespread activity in Lebanon that depends on the availability of flowering trees to produce honey. Likewise, forests promote the growth of ecotourism, an increasingly popular activity throughout Lebanon.

Forests are extremely important in Lebanon for a number of other social and environmental reasons, including the prominence of Lebanon’s cedar trees as the country’s most important symbol for unity and national pride and the important role that its forests play in water conservation and other environmental services. It is not a coincidence that Lebanon is the most forested nation in the Near

East and also the only nation in the region afforded with relative water security.

The decline of Lebanon’s forests by more than 35% over the last 50 years poses great potential threats to national identity, water security, and rural and urban livelihoods. Climate change in the Eastern

Mediterranean threatens to exacerbate the effects of deforestation and hasten desertification. The implications of the combined phenomena of climate change and deforestation pose serious threats primarily to Lebanon’s water security. Vegetative cover is extremely important to mitigate climate change, ensure adequate storage and safe release of clean water. Lebanon already suffers from very high run-off of water and soil during rainstorm and snow-melt events. If vegetative cover declines, the rate of run-off and sedimentation will inevitably increase, leading to less water infiltration and a decline in ground water and aquifer replenishment. Reforestation should therefore be a national priority for Lebanon with respect to securing water resources.

Additionally, around the globe there is a striking correlation between forested areas and high poverty levels. Most of the world’s poorest people live in and around forests. Lebanon is no different in this regard. Some of Lebanon’s highest poverty rates are located in its regions with high forest cover.

The question of rural poverty is a pressing concern in Lebanon where large segments of the population have been uprooted due to conflict or the lure of economic incentives elsewhere. As rural villages lose their inhabitants to larger cities and other countries the remaining residents face fewer opportunities to support themselves and their families. Degradation of the landscape due to wildfires and erosion has exacerbated the problem, causing widespread desertification and greatly decreasing agricultural potential in many areas.

Previous Reforestation Efforts in Lebanon

Lebanon’s forest cover is threatened by rapid deforestation. Summer forest fires burn large areas if left uncontrolled on land that has not been properly cleared of brush. During 2006 and 2007, forest fires eliminated almost 3,600 hectares of trees around the country. Harvesting trees for fuel wood and clearing land for urban development and agricultural purposes has also led to a decline in forest area.

In cleared areas that are left unused, grazing by livestock such as sheep and goats inhibits natural regeneration and contributes to desertification.

To reverse the deforestation trend and rehabilitate the country’s forests, the Lebanese government created the National Reforestation Plan (NRP) in 2001 and allocated 25 billion Lebanese pounds to the Ministry of Environment (MOE) for reforestation efforts. The plan calls for planting trees over a

30-year period in order to increase forest cover to 20%. Phases One and Two of the plan were carried out in the years 2002 to 2004 and 2004 to 2006, respectively, and resulted in the initial reforestation attempts of approximately 580 hectares.

The Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI) was conceived to address these concerns by: (i) strengthening the production of vigorous tree seedlings by native tree nurseries and increasing the survivability rates of planted trees; (ii) building greater technical capacity and coordination among those promoting reforestation in Lebanon; and (iii) raising institutional capacity and public awareness to prevent and respond to wildfires and to promote forest biodiversity protection. The approach includes greater community consultation, a holistic approach to ecological and social criteria, and a focus on the ultimate aim of increased tree survival rates.

A. Strategy for the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative

Literature from around the world regarding reforestation initiatives demonstrates that though not always the most efficient way to implement reforestation programs, a decentralized approach is by far the most effective in the long-term. This is attributed largely to the understanding that communities must have a vested interest in the success of the plantations for them to thrive. When reforestation programs are centrally imposed with few recognizable benefits to communities, there is little incentive for communities to protect the trees from fire, grazing, encroachment and harvesting.

Reforestation programs typically fail when they do not fully recognize the importance of social and economic factors that lead to deforestation. The USFS favors a decentralized approach to engaging rural communities on the municipal level.

When properly implemented, reforestation activities can restore environmental health and ecosystem services. The benefits are wide-ranging – clean water, forest products, eco-tourism opportunities, soil conservation, improved aesthetics, biodiversity conservation. Reforestation must be implemented correctly in order to avoid creating new problems, though. For instance, replanting degraded areas with non-native species may have serious consequences for biodiversity if the new species is able to out-compete existing species or is harmful to local birds or herbivores. Replanting with species that are not adapted to the sites on which they are planted may lead to forest decline several years in the future. Actively encouraging natural regeneration might be possible and preferable on some sites.

Reforestation is a long-term process requiring solid investment to begin and sustained efforts over the long-term. An effective reforestation program will need to be carefully planned at the site and national level and will require a major up-front investment of time, money and technical assistance in nurseries and seedling production. The USAID/Lebanon and US Forest Service partnership will be critical to laying a strong foundation to support reforestation programs in Lebanon over the next 100 years. The

Forest Service, USAID, local municipalities and other members of Lebanon’s environmental community will plant approximately 300,000 trees through this program over the four years of the project.

Additionally, the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI) seeks to jointly alleviate poverty and promote reforestation through the creation of short and long-term reforestation activities. The short-term benefits will be derived from employing local community members to plant seedlings and by enhancing existing nursery enterprises, plant trees and attend to follow-up needs. Long-term benefits will reach communities through the sustainable management of economically valuable forests and the ecosystem services those forests provide.

The project favors a decentralized approach to engage communities at the municipal level and will focus on: (i) assisting existing native tree nurseries with enhanced business planning and technical improvements; (ii) supporting the production of quality native seedlings, and especially threatened species, throughout Lebanon; (iii) hiring disadvantaged community members to plant, monitor, and protect trees produced by nurseries; and (iv) instilling a commitment to tree planting and public awareness to prevent and respond to wildfires through educational outreach.

The Forest Service proposes a comprehensive four-year program aimed at reforesting Lebanon and providing short-term jobs in vulnerable and poverty-ridden areas. The strategy contains three primary thematic areas of intervention, which will have both direct and indirect impacts. They include the establishment of quality native seedlings throughout the country by working closely with private nurseries to improve seedling development protocols. The next thematic area will follow the second sequentially and will involve hiring disadvantaged people to plant, monitor and protect trees produced by these nurseries. Finally, the initiative will assist existing commercial nurseries with business planning and technical improvements. The initiative will also seek to instill a national commitment to tree planting through educational outreach interventions in schools and communities across the country, notably in the communities engaged in reforestation and wildland fire prevention and response.

The direct impacts of the program are multi-fold and will include the following: establishment of reforestation MOUs to generate short-term employment in communities throughout Lebanon; planting of approximately 300,000 trees; restoration of sites with important ecological, cultural and watershed values; and improved native tree nursery operations.

Indirectly, the initiative will lay the foundation for sustainable reforestation efforts over the next century. Sound scientific practices are at the core of any successful reforestation endeavor. Through this project and the comprehensive technical assistance that it will involve, the USFS will help to establish standards and practices to ensure that the seedlings purchased and planted will have the strongest chance of survival to maturity. Without this technical assistance, investment into tree planting may be wasted. This project will have a lasting and measurable impact with a wide reach beyond just the number of trees planted by the project itself. In addition to those trees, future reforestation efforts will benefit from viable national commercial nurseries producing quality seedlings. Measurable indicators for the success of this effort over the long-term will include the adoption by most of Lebanon’s native tree nurseries of advanced seedling germination protocols and the number of trees that survive in the field over a three-year period.

In sum, the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative aims to increase Lebanon’s capacity for sustainable forestry and wildfire prevention and response and to increase reforestation of the country’s forests.

Below is an outline of the LRI strategy by the three thematic Project Intermediate Results (PIR) and corresponding objectives.

1) PIR 1: Enhanced National Native Seedling Supply and Outplanting Capacity to Support

Sustainable Reforestation

1.1 Nursery improvement plan established and implemented.

1.2 Nursery network established and functioning.

1.3 Nursery technical data and information generated and disseminated.

1.4 Fall, winter, and spring planting by municipalities.

1.5 Tree planting technical and geographical data and information management system established.

1.6 Educational outreach interventions and campaigns on tree planting established.

2) PIR 2: Enhanced Sustainability of Mechanisms for Financing and Coordination of

Reforestation Programs

2.1 Linkages established between native seedling sellers and buyers.

2.2 Nursery certification program established.

2.3 Legal and financial norms for forest/reforestation foundation in place.

2.4 Networking opportunities established for practitioners, scientists, donors and others in the forestry community to promote good practices.

3) PIR 3: Improved Prevention of and Response to Wildfires and Restoration of Burned

Areas

3.1 Public outreach and education campaign on wildfire prevention.

3.2 Volunteer firefighting squads in partner municipalities established.

3.3 Increased ability of local firefighting units to respond to wildfires.

3.4 Burn area restoration maps created.

The broad activities that fall under these three thematic areas are:

• Provide a platform for cooperation among principal forestry stakeholders, including local municipalities, nongovernmental organizations, practitioners, the private sector, donors, and research and academic institutions to promote reforestation.

• Share international best practices and approaches and capitalize on existing capacities within

Lebanon to advance reforestation and prevent and respond to wildfires.

Implementation of the above activities will result in the following deliverables:

• Establishment of a national prioritization map of reforestation sites that would include a comprehensive array of social and ecological data as well as national standards for planting.

• Creation of transparent on-line monitoring tools for each project site and communications products on reforestation activities across the country.

• Training and capacity building for municipal, NGO and private sector partners in reforestation, seedling production, and extension.

• Establishment of national working groups across institutional jurisdictions to promote coordination and efficiency.

• MOUs with municipalities and other associations for nursery improvements and short-term jobs through reforestation.

• Establishment of educational materials promoting awareness of the importance of forest conservation and wildfire prevention for schoolchildren in selected communities across

Lebanon.

B. Project Intermediate Results

To achieve the project goals and objectives, the Forest Service will work closely with Lebanon’s nongovernmental forestry sector, including nongovernmental organizations, private sector entrepreneurs, other forestry practitioners, and academics, and local municipalities throughout the country’s eight muhafazahs or regions. The Forest Service believes it is essential to influence those change agents at the grassroots and local level that collectively shape and implement forestry practices and policies in Lebanon. The Forest Service expects to forge partnership agreements and cooperative MOUs with selected forestry NGOs and local municipalities to implement much of the proposed work program and to deliver the identified technical assistance.

The Forest Service will hire a program director and local staff to liaise with counterparts and to orchestrate the needed technical assistance. The Forest Service will open an office in Beirut staffed by USFS contractors to manage these efforts in the field, and will rely heavily on USFS and other international experts for technical expertise to provide advice and consultation as required. The local staff will include a nursery extension specialist, three mapping and inventory specialists, a silviculture extension specialist, an accountant, an office manager, two drivers, a foundation development and outreach specialist, and an environmental education specialist. These experts will help steer national working groups and coordinate technical interventions in their respective specialties throughout the life of the project.

Project Intermediate Result 1: Enhanced National Native Seedling Supply and

Outplanting Capacity to Support Sustainable Reforestation

The Lebanon Reforestation Initiative will require intensive investment in the first several years to encourage the production of high quality seedlings for reforestation. Commercial nursery improvements will be essential to safeguard any investment into reforestation, and should be relatively straightforward. .

Seedling vigor is the ability of an out-planted seedling to rapidly grow roots into the substrate into which it is planted and to become established on the site by the time soil moisture becomes limiting.

A small amount of equipment that is unavailable in Lebanon could be custom-made with technical assistance and capital help, including funding for seeders, flat fillers and cold storage facilities for the larger nurseries in Lebanon.

If changes are made to increase the vigor of planting stock, provide cold storage before planting, conduct proper packaging of seedlings before transport and enhance conditions during transport and planting, seedling survival rates in Lebanon will improve tremendously, costs of seedlings will go down, and larger volumes of trees will be available for planting each year.

Specifically, Lebanon’s commercial nurseries would benefit from instruction on and assistance with automation, particularly as they grow larger. Additionally, they would benefit from improvements to seedling purchasers, as procurement is typically arranged just prior to planting season and does not allow the nursery to conduct planning to prepare the desired type and amount of seedlings. Because of this, many seedlings are held over multiple years and are not healthy for planting. The Forest Service will conduct interventions with commercial nurseries both on automation, seedling preparation, and enhancements to contracting procedures.

Additional interventions should include enhancements to national seed stock, which would be taken only from local sources and from agricultural research centers. Forest geneticists will consult with relevant institutions in Lebanon to determine appropriate levels of genetic information that is needed to support seedling survivability. Over the long term, seeds must be adapted to planting sites.

Training will be provided to nursery managers to improve the quality of seedlings and provide other related technical assistance as needed.

To strengthen out-planting practices and in support of the goal of increasing reforestation in Lebanon, the Forest Service will identify a minimum of eight large reforestation sites throughout the country.

USFS will identify and prioritize reforestation sites based on ecological, social, and economic importance. The Forest Service will work with relevant partners to create a reforestation map based on a broad range of selection criteria. These criteria will encompass social, economic and ecological data, including poverty, religion, population density, existing forest biodiversity, ecotourism potential, access to water, topography, fire risk, soil types, land ownership, municipal interest in participation in a national reforestation program, location of private nurseries, locations of burned areas and areas of removed unexploded ordnance, and other considerations. These criteria will be used to identify and prioritize an even distribution of prioritized sites for reforestation, emphasizing those areas with the greatest potential for seedling survival.

The project will identify reforestation sites through a comprehensive mapping and data analysis series of technical visits. This information will be made available in an easily digestible format, with interactive maps that include layers of data. These maps will be used as a prioritization exercise to identify targeted communities for reforestation programs, as well as to upload monitoring data, provide reporting information and be utilized as a tool to generate donations from the Lebanese global community for reforestation. The mapping will result in the creation of an on-line monitoring tool for information sharing, monitoring and evaluation of programs. This tool will eventually be migrated to the independent foundation that the project will help establish.

Municipalities will be chosen on the basis of demonstrated need due to a combination of income and environmental factors. Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the municipalities will specify the composition of the work crews, the wages paid, the work period, and the expected deliverables.

MOUs may also include provisions to compensate segments of the community that do not benefit directly from reforestation. These provisions may include alternate pastures set aside for grazers.

These provisions will include funds to hire local shepherds to guard the new plantations from grazing.

The MOUs will also cover maintenance for three years, the average time needed to ensure seedling viability in Lebanon.

It will be essential to clarify rights to benefits prior to initiating any activity on the ground. The

Forest Service will work with local lawyers to draft template MOUs for use with each village. The

MOUs will be simple, clear, and will largely serve a symbolic purpose to highlight the responsibilities of the municipality and/or local organization with respect to caring for the forest, while also outlining the technical support that will be made available to them.

Monitoring the reforestation plots will be very important in order to ensure that the greatest number of planted seedlings possible can survive. Monitoring different sites will help inform and improve future planting efforts at similar sites. The USFS believes that it would be critical to identify independent teams of monitoring technicians at each plantation site to conduct regular monitoring of seedling survivorship and update this information to the project headquarters. This would be ideal work for women in each of the eight communities selected. The USFS can train women, ideally biology or other science teachers in rural girls’ schools or colleges to conduct this work. This will add additional income for women in each location and will help to disseminate science and tree planting information to women in the various communities, as well as to supplement their income with additional small stipend for their monitoring efforts. The USFS will negotiate for inclusion of women at this level during MOU negotiations. Additionally, female students from community schools will also be sought to contribute to the reforestation efforts, adding to the population of women benefitting from this project in a significant way.

Project Intermediate Result 1 includes the following objectives, activities, timeframe, and deliverables:

1.1 Strengthen Nurseries

1.1.1 Assess capacity of nursery practitioners

1.1.1.1 Identify initial group of native tree nurseries to assess capacity (four nurseries) o Lead:

o Timeframe: January-February 2011 o Deliverables: Expert visit and assessment report

1.1.1.2 Provide nursery equipment to increase capacity of selected nurseries o Timeframe: March-April 2011 o Deliverables: Purchase and delivery of equipment

1.1.1.3 Identify and communicate with expanded group of native tree nurseries (nine nurseries, including original group of four) o Timeframe: July-August 2011 o Deliverables:

� Expert visit of nine nurseries and institutions

� Assessment Report

1.1.2 Implement a nursery improvement plan

1.1.2.1 Create standardized forms for nurseries

o Timeframe: August 2011 o Deliverable: Nursery improvement plan forms

1.1.2.2 Prepare/combine forms with first two nursery assessments and meeting information outcomes for Madrid conference o Timeframe: September 2011 o Deliverable: Materials for conference discussions

1.1.2.3 Send selected nursery partners to Madrid Regenerating Forest conference and brainstorm nursery improvement plan o Timeframe: September 2011 o Deliverable: Nursery partners sent to conference

1.1.2.4 Plan and schedule a technical workshop to introduce nursery-specific improvement plans o Support:

o Timeframe: October-November 2011 o Deliverable: Workshop draft agenda

1.1.2.5 Establish protocols for nursery improvement plan (for 2012 sowing), communicating with nurseries and expert (Nov/Dec 2011) o Support: .

o Timeframe: August-December 2011 o Deliverable: Protocols established for nursery improvement plans

1.1.2.6 Implement nursery-specific improvement plans at each of the nine nurseries o Timeframe: Beginning January 2012 o Deliverables: Reporting on progress

1.1.3 Implement protocols of native species stocks, the handling of them and use for reforestation

1.1.3.1 Create list of equipment needed for nursery improvement plan o Timeframe: October-December 2011 o Deliverables: List of nursery equipment needs

1.1.3.2 Create list of seedlings available (include species numbers, price, etc.) for the

2011-2012 reforestation growing seasons o Timeframe: November-December 2011 o Deliverables: List of available seedlings

1.1.3.3 Establish germination protocols

o Timeframe: Beginning January-February 2012 o Deliverables:

� Experts to assist with germination protocols

� Nursery protocols completed and start implementation (January 2011)

� Germination protocols developed mainly for juniper species

� Protocols completed (January-February 2012)

1.1.4 Facilitate establishment of a nursery network so nurseries can a) collectively advocate for advance orders by purchasers of seedlings; b) develop outreach plans; and c) influence national-level policy decisions.

1.1.4.1 Facilitate visioning discussion for creation of nursery network o Timeframe: November 2011 o Deliverables: Workshop report summarizing discussion

1.1.4.2 Support nursery network action plan

o Timeframe: Beginning December 2011 o Deliverables: Nursery network action plan

1.1.4.3 Conduct limited market assessment of native seedling demand o Timeframe: March-April 2012 o Deliverables: Nursery network action plan

1.1.4.4 Convene nursery network inaugural meeting with seedling ordering protocol issues on agenda o Timeframe: May 2012 o Deliverables: Nursery network inaugural meeting agenda

1.1.5 Technical Nursery Outreach

1.1.5.1 Develop nursery technical manual in Arabic that builds upon nursery handbook developed by AFDC/IUCN o Timeframe: November 2012 o Deliverable: Nursery technical manual

1.1.5.2 Develop native tree seed collection sources and protocols for nursery seed stocks o Timeframe: Starting April 2012 o Deliverables: Seed collection sources identified and protocols established

1.1.5.3 Develop website with nursery section

o Support: Mapping team o Timeframe: Starting May 2011 o Deliverables: Webpage for nurseries on the website platform

1.1.5.4 Uploading technical data related to nurseries’ activities and generated species specifications o Support: Mapping team o Timeframe: Starting summer 2012 o Deliverables: E-library for nurseries

1.2 Strengthen Tree Planting

1.2.1 Fall season 2011 planting at demonstration sites (three or four sites)

1.2.1.1 Establish environmental and social criteria for tree planting site selection o Support: Mapping/environment team o Timeframe: Mid-October 2011 o Deliverables: Site selection criteria list

1.2.1.2 Identify available seedlings planted by new methods

o Timeframe: September-October 2011 o Deliverables:

1.2.1.3 Analyze priority criteria for site selection

o Timeframe: October 2011

1.2.1.4 Field assessment of demonstration sites

1.2.1.5 Identification of stakeholders

1.2.1.6 Signature of MOUs

o Support: Admin team o Timeframe: November 2011 o Deliverables: Signed MOUs

1.2.1.7 Preparing land

o Support: Municipalities o Timeframe: Nov-Dec 2011

1.2.1.8 Ordering equipment for planting

1.2.1.9 Ordering seedlings

o Timeframe: Late October 2011

1.2.1.10 Hiring planters and forest guards for each site

o Timeframe: Late October 2011

1.2.1.11 Planting seedlings

o Support:.

o Timeframe: November-December 2011

1.2.2 Final Site Selection

1.2.2.1 Preliminary site selection

o Timeframe: October 2011 to March 2012 o Deliverables:

� A list of sites from which to pick the eight planting sites

� A map showing the eight selected sites

1.2.2.2 Field assessment of sites

o Support: / Mapping Team o Timeframe: March 2012 o Deliverables: Field assessment reports

1.2.2.3 Identification of stakeholders

o Support: / Mapping Team o Deliverables: Field assessment reports

1.2.2.4 Final selection of the eight sites

o Lead: Full team o Timeframe: June 2012 o Deliverables: Eight planting sites of approximately 40-70 hectares

1.2.3 Winter site planting – Two sites

1.2.3.1 MOUs signed with municipalities

o Timeframe: Early January 2012 o Deliverables: Two municipality agreements signed

1.2.3.2 Ordering seedlings from nurseries

o Timeframe: Early January to February 2012 o Deliverables: Seedling orders submitted to nurseries

1.2.3.3 Procurement of equipment for planting

o Timeframe: Early January to February 2012

1.2.3.4 Preparing land for winter planting

o Timeframe: February 2012 o Deliverables: Two or three sites prepared for planting

1.2.3.5 Hiring field workers and guards

o Support: Admin Team o Timeframe: February 2012 o Deliverables: Field workers and guards identified and hired

1.2.3.6 Mobilize field workers and provide training on planting methods o Timeframe: End of January-February 2012 o Deliverables: Field worker training provided

1.2.3.7 Winter season planting

o Timeframe: Feb-March 2012 (after snow) o Deliverables: Two or three sites planted

1.2.4 Spring Season Planting

1.2.4.1 Secure agreement/signatures on MOUs with municipalities o Support: Admin o Deliverables: Three signed MOUs

1.2.4.2 Preparing land for planting

o Timeframe: April 2012

1.2.4.3 Hiring field workers and guards

o Support: Admin o Timeframe: April 2012 o Deliverables: Hired staff identified and hired

1.2.4.4 Mobilize field workers and provide training on planting methods o Deliverables: Planting method training provided

1.2.4.5 Spring seedling planting

o Deliverables: Three sites planted

1.2.5 Develop technical packages

1.2.5.1 Prepare technical fact sheets

o Timeframe: June-July 2012 o Deliverables: Technical fact sheets on seedling care, specific species and out-planting considerations

1.2.5.2 Undertake desk study of forecasted climate change impacts on Lebanon forested zones and implications for future reforestation efforts o Timeframe: May 2012 – April 2013 o Deliverables: Desk study on climate change forest impacts

1.2.5.3 Training of community foresters at the selected sites o Timeframe: July 2012 o Deliverables: 30 trained community foresters

1.2.6 Monitoring success of outplanting

1.2.6.1 Monitor success of fall demonstration site planting

o Timeframe: December 2011 to December 2012 o Deliverables: Field monitoring reports after every field monitoring visit

1.2.6.2 Monitor success of winter site planting

o Timeframe: March 2012 to March 2013

1.2.6.3 Monitor success of spring site planting

o Timeframe: May 2012 to May 2013

1.3 Information Management

1.3.1 Mapping Framework

1.3.1.1 Check availability of satellite images

o Timeframe: Starting September 2011 o Deliverable: List of available and required satellite imagery

1.3.1.2 Acquire mapping software and hardware

o Timeframe: By mid-October 2011 o Deliverable: Acquired mapping software and hardware

1.3.1.3 Data integration and satellite image processing for site selection o Timeframe: Starting mid-October 2011 o Deliverable: Geographical database

1.3.1.4 Data analysis and site selection

o Support: Mapping Team /Nursery and Silviculture Team o Timeframe: By last week of December 2011 o Deliverable: Creation of models / 1 st phase of site selection

1.3.1.5 Update data based on technical team field visits to support decisions made in site selection and generate eight selected site maps o Timeframe: By end December 2011 o Deliverable: Selection of eight sites and generation of a list of possible thematic maps

1.3.1.6 Creation and continuous update of maps of eight sites in parallel to technical teamwork o Lead: /Mapping Team o Timeframe: Beginning February 2012 (ongoing) o Deliverable: Eight site-specific maps; updated geographical database

1.3.1.7 Respond to outreach needs for maps

o Lead: /Mapping Team o Timeframe: Beginning December 2011 (ongoing) o Deliverable: Outreach maps

1.3.2 Database development

1.3.2.1 Define legend of vegetation map

o Support: Mapping Team / o Timeframe: Beginning March 2012 (ongoing) o Deliverable: Inventory protocol

1.3.2.2 Processing satellite images (segmentation and classification) for vegetation map o Support: / Expert support o Timeframe: Beginning April 2012 (ongoing) o Deliverable: Vegetation classes division

1.3.2.3 Ground-truthing of vegetation map demonstration sites o Support: Mapping Team / Expert support o Timeframe: Beginning May 2012 (ongoing) o Deliverable: Vegetation map

1.3.3 Website development

1.3.3.1 Creation of web platform

o Support: Web developer o Timeframe: Beginning November 2011 o Deliverable: Draft web platform

1.3.3.2 Continuously enhance the website with project information and events o Lead: Support: LRI full team and web developer o Timeframe: Beginning December 2012 (ongoing) o Deliverable: Updated website

1.4 Public Outreach and Awareness

1.4.1 Develop an outreach plan for public awareness of forest management, including wildfire and forest biodiversity issues, in LRI selected municipalities

1.4.1.1 Assess the availability of reforestation, wildfire and related outreach materials and the type of outreach and awareness activities developed by partner organizations in Lebanon and particularly in LRI selected municipalities o Timeframe: September 2011 – February 2012 o Deliverables: Due diligence report describing role of selected grassroots organizations in complementing LRI outreach and awareness activities.

1.4.1.2 Assess local community reforestation and wildfire stakeholders in municipalities entering into MOUs with LRI o Timeframe: November-December 2012 o Deliverables: Municipality specific surveys that identify and describe various reforestation/wildfire stakeholders and identify gaps and opportunities where LRI can provide complimentary outreach and awareness materials to existing programs.

1.4.1.3 Partner with grassroots organizations and/or local experts to develop and disseminate outreach and awareness material for each municipality signing an

MOU with LRI o Timeframe: November-December 2013 o Deliverables:

• “Town hall” type meetings in each of the LRI planting municipalities to engage “receptor points” and other community stakeholders to develop a municipality-specific outreach component as part of the overall municipality engagement plan/MOU

• Municipality-specific outreach and awareness component for each municipality engagement plan/MOU.

1.4.1.4 Partner with grassroots organizations to develop and disseminate outreach and awareness material for schools present in each municipality entering an MOU with LRI, building upon existing efforts such as AFDC’s “Sanjoub” program o Timeframe: November 2011-March 2012 o Deliverables: MOUs signed between LRI and selected organizations

1.4.2 Develop and disseminate technical and other materials required to achieve municipality-specific environmental education and capacity building plans

1.4.2.1 Identify and develop specific technical and other materials o Timeframe: February-March 2012 o Deliverables:

• Native species and other technical fact sheets

• Specific package of support for each native species

• Wildfire prevention fact sheets

1.4.2.2 Disseminate technical materials (as per the outreach component agreed to in the LRI-municipality MOU).

o Timeframe: February-May 2012 o Deliverables:

• Training sessions

1.4.3 Monitor implementation of technical capacity building component of municipality MOUs

1.4.3.1 Monitor implementation of municipality awareness raising at both the level of the general public and with specific community points of contact already engaged with LRI (school youth volunteers; goat herders, etc.)

o Timeframe: Throughout project cycle monitoring will be done once every two months o Deliverables: Reports prepared following every monitoring visit

1.4.4 Mobilize planting communities and volunteers, and promote networking across neighboring communities

1.4.4.1 Organize one-day community mobilization and outreach events in connection with seedling planting o Timeframe: Fall, winter and spring of each year o Deliverables: Three community events per growing season (year), with journalists/media invited to at least two events per year

Project Intermediate Result 2: Enhanced Sustainability of Mechanisms for Financing and Coordination of Reforestation Programs

In the absence of heavy extractable forest resources, Lebanon will need to identify other economic drivers to maintain reforestation in the long-term. Timber harvesting is not a practical option for generating revenue through reforestation as it is in most countries, so Lebanon will have to creatively seek other economic incentives to encourage long-term success of any reforestation program, such an innovative payment schemes for ecosystem services to enable reforestation and conservation.

The USFS will help promote national interest in reforestation through school-based educational campaigns and through support for tree planting festivals in the fall and/or spring months. The USFS will support tree-planting festivals across the country in locations where reforestation MOUs have been issued to encourage communities to engage in grassroots reforestation, to promote volunteerism and to generate interest and awareness in the urban populations regarding the importance of forests and the role that they play in the provision of clean water and air. Trees, banners, and other informational material will be provided to communities where festivals are held.

One of the major shortcomings of the present system of reforestation in Lebanon is the lack of sufficient coordination between those producing seedlings for planting – principally private native tree nurseries -- and those interested in reforesting and purchasing seedlings for planting. The lack of coordination is exemplified by the lack of sufficient notice provided to nursery managers for production of tree seedlings. Without sufficient notice, seedling production tends to be haphazard, with seedling stocks often losing their vigor after staying in greenhouses and germination containers too long. Another resulting problem is the procurement of non-native seedling stocks from outside

Lebanon to meet demand that is not communicated in coordinated fashion. This results in non-native invasive species being introduced to Lebanon.

To counter these conditions and to help unify the production of vigorous native tree species, the

Forest Service expects to facilitate the establishment of a loose network of nursery operators.

Successful models from North American and Europe will be introduced and LRI will help promote interest in convening regular meetings of native tree nursery operators to share experience with advanced seedling production, effective marketing practices, and introducing seedling production protocols. A nursery certification program will be established to promote the good practices and encourage seedling buyers to procure seedlings from reputable seedling producers.

Similarly, the Forest Service will organize periodic workshops and training events to provide both buyers and sellers of native tree seedlings with the latest developments in advanced seedling production techniques and sustainable out-planting methods. These gatherings will serve to promote the adoption of advanced reforestation practices and protocols that are expected to influence national reforestation policies. The objective is to change behavior among the critical change agents at the local and practitioner level rather than to hope such change will come about from the top-down.

Project Intermediate Result 2 includes the following objectives, activities, timeframe, and

2.1 Build Linkages between Native Seedling Suppliers and Buyers

2.1.1 Identify the “point people” on the buyers’ side

2.1.1.1 Creation of a nongovernmental forest management task force, including nursery managers, buyers, NGOs, research institutions (national and international), donors, etc.

o Timeframe: By March 2012 and ongoing o Deliverable: Creation of a regularly-convening nongovernmental task force on Lebanese reforestation issues

2.1.1.2 Acquire list of municipalities interested in reforestation o Deadline: By end of March 2012 o Deliverable: List of municipalities

2.1.1.3 Compile list of potential buyers, including NGOs, private sector, etc.

o Deadline: By end of March 2012 o Deliverable: List of buyers

2.1.2 Awareness raising re: science of appropriate site and appropriate seedlings

2.1.2.1 One-day workshop for buyers on appropriate sites and appropriate seedlings o Deadline: by January 2013 o Deliverables:

� Regional one-day workshops

� Manuals (with.)

2.1.3 Roundtables (regional and national) of buyers and LRI-approved nurseries (that produce appropriate native seedlings) o Deadline: by January-December 2013 o Deliverables:

� Direct linkages (lists of demand/supply)

� Web pages for nurseries (with mapping team)

� List of nurseries and lists of buyers

2.2 Sustainable Mechanism

2.2.1 Develop nursery certification program

2.2.1.1 Research options and local certification bodies/guidelines o Timeframe: By June 2012 o Deliverables: Examples and review of nursery certification guidelines

2.2.1.2 Develop certification program based on outcome of research and advances in the field with communities of eight selected sites o Timeframe: Beginning July-August 2012 o Deliverables: Developed certification program for native tree nurseries, including guidelines, review procedures, etc.

2.2.1.3 Awareness program for buyers and donors on the certification program o Deadline: By August 2012 o Deliverables:

� Awareness materials

� Program plan for engagement

2.2.2 Financial and program transparency and outreach

2.2.2.1 Enhance web platform as dynamic outreach tool

o Support: Mapping Team o Timeframe: July 2012 o Deliverables: Program website enhanced as a dynamic web platform

2.2.2.2 Integrate mapping data on LRI website

o Timeframe: Beginning July 2012 and ongoing o Deliverables: Thematic maps accessible on the LRI website

2.2.2.3 Visually represent LRI accomplishments and targets in context of project goals (i.e., reforestation, wildfire, biodiversity, economic development) o Timeframe: March 2013 o Deliverables: Thematic maps accessible on LRI website

2.2.3 Convener/networking opportunities with donors, scientists, and others in the forestry community to promote good practices

2.2.3.1 Plan prepared for scientists and others

o Timeframe: Ready for plan implementation in Summer 2013 o Expected outcomes:

� Strengthened networks and relationships across these groups

� Better understanding of advances

� Public awareness through media participation o Deliverables: Plan with recommendations such as roundtable series, conference (with international organizations), etc.

Intermediate Result 3: Improved Prevention and Response to Wildfires and

Restoration of Burned Areas

In 2009 USFS began an intensive program in Lebanon targeted specifically at building capacity in the areas of wildland fire coordination and response. During the first two years of this program, the Forest

Service conducted two study tours, a field demonstration and a series of workshops designed to introduce Lebanese firefighters to elements of the Incident Command System (ICS), an organizational system developed by USFS to manage complex natural disasters. Additionally, USFS was able to leverage its significant experience in wildland firefighting to conduct several technical trainings and specialized assessments on this subject in conjunction with a diverse group of partners.

Community firefighters can also provide a ready source of manpower but also lack the skill and equipment to be effective at responding to wildfires by themselves. In the case of a wildfire in its vicinity, a municipality often must wait for the Civil Defense and others to respond, sometimes from great distances. Certain municipalities have taken a more proactive role, working with NGO’s to train and equip local volunteer firefighters. Although their effect on a large fire is limited, the volunteer firefighters can play an important role by responding to fires while they are still small and not burning aggressively. These initial attacks can have a dramatic effect on the eventual size of the fire and the amount of resources that are expended to control it. Additionally, municipal governments are often the best placed to disseminate information about fire risk to local farmers and landholders. In FY12, the LRI will begin directly implementing the Forest Service’s wildland firefighting activities in

Lebanon.

Project Intermediate Result 3 includes the following objectives, activities, timeframe, and

3.1 Wildfire Prevention and Awareness

3.1.1 Develop prevention materials

3.1.1.1 Conduct assessment to determine the availability of general awareness materials and ongoing programs (including wildfire prevention) in selected municipality.

o Timeframe: By December 2012 o Deliverable: Assessment Report

3.1.1.2 Develop municipality-specific work plans that increase awareness of wildfire prevention in selected communities and the general public.

o Timeframe: By February 2012 o Deliverable: 8-10 work plans

3.1.1.3 Develop necessary prevention materials in collaboration with partners.

o Timeframe: By February 2012 o Deliverable: Awareness materials

3.1.1.4 Carry out awareness activities in collaboration with partner NGO’s and community members o Timeframe: Beginning April 2012 (ongoing) o Deliverable: Trainings/workshops

3.2 Wildfire Response Training

3.2.1 Continue USFS support for Training

3.2.1.1 In collaboration with partners to develop institutional firefighter training program o Timeframe: By February 2011 o Deliverable: Assessment report

3.2.1.2 In collaboration with partners develop standardized, Arabic-language training materials to support firefighter trainings o Timeframe: By April 2012 o Deliverable: Training materials

3.2.1.3 Carry out a workshop with appropriate partners staff to discuss the development of a unified firefighting response system for use on Lebanese wildland fires o Timeframe: By May 2012 o Deliverable: ICS Plan

3.2.1.4 In collaboration with partners and other parties, conduct a wildfire simulation to practice response tactics and demonstrate ICS o Deliverable: Simulation

3.2.1.5 Conduct a firefighter training-of-trainers program for approximately 120 firefighting brigards Lebanon o Timeframe: By June 2012, repeating each year o Deliverable: LAF Officers trained

3.2.1.6 Provide firefighting equipment to three brigades located in fire-sensitive…