Since April 2005, EuroNatur cooperates with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) and, with the financial support from the German Federal Foundation for Environment (DBU), is also engaged in the protection of migratory birds in Lebanon. This project was affected by political events right from the beginning. First, the onset had to be postponed for two months due to safety reasons, because of the assassination of the former Lebanese head of state Rafik Al Hariri. Beirut was hit by bomb attacks again and again, and the city was not spared from the protests against the Mohammed caricatures either. Despite these adverse circumstances, our partner managed to implement many of the measures we had planned. Prospects to successfully conclude this project or even extend it were good. However, with the sudden start of the war in Lebanon mid of July 2006 the situation has changed drastically, and one can imagine that our partners now have more important matters to see to than the protection of migratory birds. Nonetheless, they are still trying to perform their job as well as circumstances allow it. Even now, in our talks and Email contacts with our Lebanese colleagues we also talk about our joint project work. We want to signal our partners that despite this difficult situation we intend to continue our project in the Lebanon. Presently, it is difficult to say when this can be done, but we will do our utmost to continue rendering our partners in the Middle East, i.e. the Lebanon, Israel and Palestine every possible assistance.

While nowadays many actions are taken to protect both migratory and brooding birds and their habitat in our hemisphere, in southern Europe and the Middle East thousands of birds are still being killed en route to their hibernation grounds because of traditional fowling which is still deep-rooted in many regions.

Such as in Lebanon: because of geographical conditions, the flight corridor narrows down to a few kilometres, producing a bottleneck through which the migratory birds have to pass. In the Bekaa plains, the migratory birds' corridor narrows down to 15 km; here, call for action is very urgent. Countless songbirds such as larks, reed warblers, blackcaps, finches and nightingales, but also larger migratory birds such as cranes, white and black storks, hen harriers, ospreys and Bonelli's eagles fall prey to fowling.

In our project area Kfar Zabad, situated in the Bekaa plains about 60 km east from Beirut on the Syrian border, we have started achieving results. Our local partner organisation SPNL (Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon) has succeeded in winning the local population to impose a ban on fowling within the municipal wetland, and to develop an eco-friendly and nature-oriented tourism. In the meantime, a local group of conservationists has formed, and with the professional assistance of the SPNL they have started activities, such as constructing a mobile carriage for undisturbed bird watching. During summer, a Bedouin tent serves as information centre. Next on the list is the construction of a visitor centre that can be used throughout the year and where school classes and nature-interested visitors can inform themselves about the regional characteristics and register for guided tours into the wetland.

A fundamental change in attitude towards fowling can only be achieved by specific education in environment matters. This is where EuroNatur comes into play, bringing ecology, endangerment and protection of migratory birds home to children and adults. Especially the younger generation can get enthusiastic about the plumed travellers. Children take great interest in the instruction material that has been designed in cooperation with the Lebanese Ministry of Education and is being introduced in schools. Rethinking is slowly setting in, and more and more people acknowledge the value of living birds.