Development of the Marine Environment to Serve the Needs of the Coastal Communities – CANA plus
The general
objective of the initiative is to enhance the research and the protection of
the Lebanese marine and coastal environment, in order to foster a sustainable
management of the coast and to strengthen the socio-economic development of
local communities.
Based on the
successful outcomes of the previous initiative titled "Establishing monitoring and sustainable development of the Lebanese Sea”,
this intervention is aiming at monitoring the environmental status of the
coastal areas, while allowing at the same time the local authorities to fulfill
a sustainable decentralized management.
Through the use
of Cana Research Vessel, the CNRS:
-will monitor the efficiency of the treatment plants and will
analyze their surrounding marine grounds. Techniques for environmental
remediation will be implemented in pilot areas and their effectiveness
evaluated. The activities carried out include the use of chemical
reagents and living organisms in order to neutralize marine pollutants;
-will produce high definition bathymetry maps and will examine the
different parameters of the available fresh water (flow, temperature, ph,
oxygen, salinity, conductivity, nutrients and bacteria) examining in detail the
main underwater seal drain (UWSD) throughout the Lebanese coast;
-will carry out analysis concerning the alterations of the coastal
ecosystems, particularly in the areas surrounding the estuarine areas of the
Litani, Beirut and Nahr el Kalb rivers. The outcomes of this research will be
subject of special awareness campaigns in at least 5 public and/or private
Lebanese beaches.