After a successful pilot phase, the Lebanese Environment Forum (LEF) officially launched the “BAHR” online platform — the first national initiative in Lebanon based on citizen-based monitoring to track marine biodiversity.
This activity comes within the framework of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Network Project, implemented by LEF in collaboration with the University of Balamand and with the support of the European Union.
The launch workshop was held at MUBS University – Badaro, in cooperation with the Fishing Channel, Vitamin Sea Club, Divers of Goodwill in Lebanon, as well as volunteers working in the fields of fishing, diving, and marine rescue, in addition to representatives from scientific research centers.
LEF President Eng. Malek Ghandour opened the event with welcoming remarks, thanking all participants and collaborators for making this initiative possible. He emphasized that the partnership between civil society, universities, and local organizations forms the foundation for protecting Lebanon’s sea and ensuring the sustainability of its natural resources.
Then, Captain Omar Marchou, founder of the Fishing Channel, delivered a speech expressing his gratitude to the organizers and participants. He highlighted that the “BAHR” platform represents a turning point as it enables the systematic and reliable collection of all marine observations in one place, enhancing their scientific value and supporting evidence-based environmental policymaking.
Marchou called on all “sea companions” — including fishermen, divers, bird watchers, and sea lovers — to actively collaborate with the platform and report their observations, noting that the success of “BAHR” depends on the commitment of this key coastal community, which possesses daily, hands-on experience with the sea and its challenges.
The training session was moderated by Mr. Bassam Al-Qantar, Strategic Communication and Advocacy Advisor at the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL). He presented “BAHR” as an innovative citizen-science tool that allows people to report marine species and environmental violations, explaining how individual observations can be transformed into evidence-based scientific data that contribute to the development of Lebanon’s network of marine protected areas.
What is “BAHR”?
“BAHR” is Lebanon’s first national platform for monitoring marine biodiversity through citizen science.
It invites everyone — fishermen, divers, bird watchers, students, and families — to record their marine observations or report threats such as plastic pollution or oil spills.
You can participate via:
🌐 https://bahr.lbeforum.org/
