“Secretly approved” coastal projects in Lebanon spark outrage
Three decrees approving controversial coastal construction projects in Lebanon were reportedly signed during the final meetings of Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s outgoing cabinet, sparking outrage among activists, The New Arab reported on February 6th.
Lebanon’s new cabinet is expected to be announced shortly. Concern about the decrees were raised over the potential environmental and legal repercussions of these decisions.
According to the Lebanese daily L’Orient–Le Jour’s report, the decrees went “unnoticed for weeks” despite Lebanon’s coastal law designating the seashore as public property. However, political influence and legal loopholes have historically allowed many illegal projects to proceed.
The first decree allows the construction of a road in Bebnine, Akkar, including an underground passage. The second authorises the enlargement of a seaside development in Ras Maska village, Koura. The third concerns a project in Qlaileh, near the southern Tyre, close to the Mansouri protected area, a famous nesting site for sea turtles.
Environmental activists and local officials strongly opposed the decrees, warning that they could further restrict public access to Lebanon’s already privatised coastline and cause irreversible harm to marine ecosystems.
Paul Abi Rached, president of the environmental organisation TERRE Liban said: “It is unthinkable that, on a coastline already heavily built up and largely inaccessible to the public, we continue to see new coastal occupation projects.”
The Bebnine project involves expropriating land for a 6,000-square-meter road, including an underground passage and a port.
In Rasmaska, the decree grants construction company Palma permission to expand an existing seaside development by 1,700 square meters, increasing its total footprint to 76,140 square meters of adjacent public maritime property. The New Arab reached out to Palma for comment but received no response by the time its story was published.
The Qlaileh project has raised the most concern due to its closeness to the Mansouri protected area, an endangered sea turtles nesting sanctuary. The decree grants real estate company Wali Décor the right to occupy and invest in 14,560 square meters of public maritime land.
While an environmental impact study has been requested, activists are still skeptical.
Local activist Fadia Joumaa told Lebanese daily: “fish farms that do not follow strict environmental standards can have devastating effects, polluting marine waters, depleting oxygen levels, and promoting harmful algae growth.”
According to L’Orient–Le Jour, a group of lawyers is gearing up to challenge all three decrees, claiming that they are unlawful due to the absence of environmental impact studies.
The New Arab has sought a comment from Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Works.
