I. PROJECT BACKGROUND

Bint Jbeil is located in a remote semi-arid area in the South of Lebanon. It is characterized by a dry climate. Lately Bint Jbeil has witnessed a double phenomenon: an urbanization movement and a decrease in green spaces. There is an urgent need to create a green space. This Project consists of an initiative undertaken by the local community and the municipality of Bint Jbeil.


II. AIM OF THE PROJECT

The Project aims at creating an exemplary botanical garden (3000 square meters) at Bint Jbeil in order to create a green space in the area that will benefit the local community especially children and women.


III. OBJECTIVES

The Project objectives are to:
1. Increase green spaces mainly for children and women
2. Prevent land erosion
3. Contribute in reducing climate change
4. Contribute in combating desertification
5. Disseminate environmental awareness.


IV. ACTIVITIES

? Undertake awareness activities among the local community
? Purchase seedlings
? Complete soil leveling
? Purchase agriculture soil and leveling
? Transport and plant seedlings
? Install water network and reservoir
? Install potable water network and reservoir
? Plant grass
? Construct cement seats
? Provide waste baskets (purchase and distribute waste baskets)
? Put explanatory information for each plant
? Establish protection facilities
? Provide lighting

The process of implementation of this Project will emphasize on community involvement and participation. The Municipality, schools and the local community will be involved in this process. Students will be involved in identifying the trees and the plants. A committee of the inhabitants will be formed in order to follow-up on the botanical garden maintenance.

The Project has already achieved the construction of a fence, the gardener?s room and bathrooms in coordination with the municipality and the Ministry of Social Affairs.


V. BENEFICIARIES

The direct beneficiaries will be the inhabitants of Bint Jbeil and neighboring villages especially children and women.


VI. EXPECTED ACHIEVEMENTS/BENEFITS

Expected achievements from this Project are:
1. Create a green area in a rural area affected by haphazard urbanization
2. Contribute to climate change
3. The initiation of environmental awareness activities
4. Provision of a place for children to play
5. Provision of a pleasant place for family outings
6. Provision of an exemplary model on combating desertification. This Model includes awareness activities

The expected achievements of the Project have a very high tendency and potential for being self-sustaining beyond the duration of funding and involvement of SGP.


VII. EVALUATION INDICATORS

The evaluation indicators are as follows:
1. The establishment of the botanical garden
2. Numbers of planted trees in the first phase (264 trees)
3. Number of visitors (expected number of 2 000 visitors in the first year)
4. Number of students involved in the process
5. Increase in knowledge of the students involved in the process (use of a pre-test and a post-test)
6. Survey in the community related to the impact of the botanical garden in Beint Jbail and neighboring villages.