From March 2005 to February 2008, with funding from the MAVA trust, scientists and bird experts from A Rocha Lebanon and SPNL (BirdLife’s national partner in Lebanon) conducted the most extensive bird research project ever undertaken in Lebanon. Over 30 sites were surveyed, through the seasonal cycle, for bird and other biodiversity importance. 320 site visits were conducted totaling over 3000 hours in the field. All data was submitted to BirdLife International and 11 sites were found to satisfy BirdLife’s rigorous criteria for designation as “Important Bird Areas” (9 of global significance and 2 of regional significance) more than trebling the IBAs identified in the country from 4 to 15.
