Lebanon's Historic Pines Dying, One Cone at a Time
An invasive insect and climate change threaten the country's prized pine nuts and traditional livelihoods.
In the heart of southern Lebanon, the Bkassine Forest stands as a testament to both the resilience and vulnerability of nature.
Once teeming with pine trees that supported entire communities, this historic forest is now facing an unprecedented crisis.
The problem lies not in seasonal weather fluctuations but in an invasive insect that has taken hold: Leptoglossus occidentalis, originally from North America, which feeds on the cones crucial for producing Lebanon’s renowned pine nuts.
Dr. Nabil Nemer, a forest health expert at Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), explains that this insect attacks the cones over three years, severely reducing productivity and sometimes wiping it out entirely.
Up to 82 percent of a cone's seed pods can be left as empty shells, highlighting the devastating impact on the forest’s ecosystem.
The spread of L.
occidentalis is not confined to Lebanon; it has moved across the Mediterranean to Turkey and beyond, according to Nemer's research.
This insect’s presence threatens the livelihoods in the Bkassine reserve, recognized as the Middle East's largest productive pine forest.
While pines can be found in other parts of Lebanon, commercial cultivation is rare elsewhere.
For generations, families like that of Miled Hareb have depended on the forest for survival.
The decline of the pine trees has led to a loss of income and livelihoods, as the traditional practice of harvesting pine cones has become increasingly difficult and less rewarding.
Harvesting pine cones is physically demanding work.
Workers traditionally climb tall trees with narrow ladders, risking injury without safety gear to collect high-canopy cones.
As the yields have dwindled, so has the workforce; from around 250 workers a decade ago, now only about 20-30 laborers are employed.
Climate change exacerbates this situation.
Droughts, irregular rainfall, and rising temperatures make older trees more susceptible to pests.
A healthy tree can fend off attacks, but one that is thirsty and weakened has little defense.
Ahead of the COP-30 climate summit in Brazil, UN officials underscored the importance of protecting forests from infestations and other threats, emphasizing their role as nature's strongest defenders against climate change.
The Bkassine Forest once hosted around 100,000 productive pine trees, though recent figures are uncertain due to replanting efforts and environmental stressors.
The decline of Lebanon’s pines is also attributed to wood-boring beetles that contribute to the litter on the forest floor, inviting further infestations.
The country's economic turmoil, including a post-civil war period and a 2019 economic meltdown, has contributed to neglect in forest management and surged cases of illicit logging.
Market prices for pine nuts have risen as production decreases; what once cost around $65 per kilogram now sells for nearly $100.
With the economic strain on Lebanese families, many are unable to afford this luxury, opting instead for cheaper alternatives like sliced almonds in recipes that traditionally call for pine nuts.
Efforts to combat this crisis have been hampered by logistical challenges and lack of resources.
The Lebanese army controls access to helicopters required for pesticide spraying, often resulting in missed windows for effective treatment.
A national spraying campaign announced by Lebanon’s agriculture ministry has been deemed insufficient without broader farmer involvement, according to Nemer.
In response, training programs are underway in Bkassine to educate farmers on pest identification and forest management best practices.
These initiatives involve the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, FAO, UN Environment Programme, and USEK, aiming at a holistic approach to managing this living ecosystem.
Once teeming with pine trees that supported entire communities, this historic forest is now facing an unprecedented crisis.
The problem lies not in seasonal weather fluctuations but in an invasive insect that has taken hold: Leptoglossus occidentalis, originally from North America, which feeds on the cones crucial for producing Lebanon’s renowned pine nuts.
Dr. Nabil Nemer, a forest health expert at Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), explains that this insect attacks the cones over three years, severely reducing productivity and sometimes wiping it out entirely.
Up to 82 percent of a cone's seed pods can be left as empty shells, highlighting the devastating impact on the forest’s ecosystem.
The spread of L.
occidentalis is not confined to Lebanon; it has moved across the Mediterranean to Turkey and beyond, according to Nemer's research.
This insect’s presence threatens the livelihoods in the Bkassine reserve, recognized as the Middle East's largest productive pine forest.
While pines can be found in other parts of Lebanon, commercial cultivation is rare elsewhere.
For generations, families like that of Miled Hareb have depended on the forest for survival.
The decline of the pine trees has led to a loss of income and livelihoods, as the traditional practice of harvesting pine cones has become increasingly difficult and less rewarding.
Harvesting pine cones is physically demanding work.
Workers traditionally climb tall trees with narrow ladders, risking injury without safety gear to collect high-canopy cones.
As the yields have dwindled, so has the workforce; from around 250 workers a decade ago, now only about 20-30 laborers are employed.
Climate change exacerbates this situation.
Droughts, irregular rainfall, and rising temperatures make older trees more susceptible to pests.
A healthy tree can fend off attacks, but one that is thirsty and weakened has little defense.
Ahead of the COP-30 climate summit in Brazil, UN officials underscored the importance of protecting forests from infestations and other threats, emphasizing their role as nature's strongest defenders against climate change.
The Bkassine Forest once hosted around 100,000 productive pine trees, though recent figures are uncertain due to replanting efforts and environmental stressors.
The decline of Lebanon’s pines is also attributed to wood-boring beetles that contribute to the litter on the forest floor, inviting further infestations.
The country's economic turmoil, including a post-civil war period and a 2019 economic meltdown, has contributed to neglect in forest management and surged cases of illicit logging.
Market prices for pine nuts have risen as production decreases; what once cost around $65 per kilogram now sells for nearly $100.
With the economic strain on Lebanese families, many are unable to afford this luxury, opting instead for cheaper alternatives like sliced almonds in recipes that traditionally call for pine nuts.
Efforts to combat this crisis have been hampered by logistical challenges and lack of resources.
The Lebanese army controls access to helicopters required for pesticide spraying, often resulting in missed windows for effective treatment.
A national spraying campaign announced by Lebanon’s agriculture ministry has been deemed insufficient without broader farmer involvement, according to Nemer.
In response, training programs are underway in Bkassine to educate farmers on pest identification and forest management best practices.
These initiatives involve the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, FAO, UN Environment Programme, and USEK, aiming at a holistic approach to managing this living ecosystem.
