Greenpeace MENA premiers ‘Cedars of Lebanon’ short film online to highlight the increasing impact of climate change on the iconic tree.
Greenpeace MENA premiers a short documentary film across its online channels today titled ‘Cedars of Lebanon’. This is the second film that was produced to document and highlight the devastating impact of global climate change on precious and unique ecosystems in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region.2
The documentary highlights the increasing dangers and risk factors that the shrinking cedar forests face due to climate change, which include parasitic infestation from insects and fungi, frost and heat stress, the halting of natural forest growth, as well as forest fires of unprecedented ferocity, scale and frequency. These threats are compounded by issues such as overgrazing, tree cutting, and rampant urbanisation in Lebanon.
“The Lebanese Cedar tree, already unique and iconic species, is really suffering from unprecedented levels of stress and risk factors, the heat waves and forest fires of the past two years only increases their urgency,” warned Julien Jreissati, Program Manager at Greenpeace MENA. “By producing films such as these and working together with environmentalists and conservationists around the world, we document the effects of manmade climate change on our natural environment and work together to mitigate the risks and help develop sustainable solutions for its conservation.”
The Lebanese Cedar tree is at the centre of the Lebanese flag and stands as a symbol for the country and its people. There are a total of less than twenty forests remaining, they’re the only old-growth forests in the Middle East, some trees are more than two thousand years years old.
“The immediate and urgent effects of the climate emergency are annually becoming ever more apparent, not just with the destruction of our ecosystems, but with the annual loss of lives and livelihoods as a result,” added Jressati. “It is imperative that climate change is acknowledged and tackled as a serious threat that is already profoundly affecting our lives, and that the necessary policies are urgently implemented to mitigate that impact.”
Notes to Editors:
- A short documentary film released in December 2019 about the challenges facing the Moroccan oasis as a result of climate change. The oasis support life in the desert and are distinguished by their biological diversity, people and culture. However, the high temperatures threaten its survival.
Link to the video:
Ahmad Hammoud
Interim Communications Manager
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