Society: A new strategy and law to reverse a long history of restrictive access to the coast

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The Lebanese Mediterranean coast stretches over 200 kilometers, yet accessing the beach freely is limited to very rare spots. Since the Lebanese war of 1975-1990, there were many illegal encroachments on the coast, and this practice hasn’t stopped with the return of peace and throughout all the crises in Lebanon.

This situation has deprived the Lebanese people from their natural right to access the beach. “The encroachments on large portions of the Lebanese coast had significant social consequences for the population. It has restricted public access to the sea, historically a vital space for recreation, cultural practices, and livelihood activities such as fishing, especially for low-income communities”, says Karen Nawwar, specialist is environment and social sciences.

This loss of access has deepened social inequalities, privileging private investors while marginalizing local residents, she adds. “Traditional coastal communities have faced displacement or disruption due to rising land values and environmental degradation. Furthermore, public trust in state institutions has deteriorated, as many perceive coastal encroachments as a result of weak governance, corruption, and lack of enforcement of environmental and planning laws, leading to growing public frustration and activism around the right to access and protect coastal resources.”

For years, the Lebanese authorities have failed to act. Josyane Yazbeck, expert in environmental law, explains why. “This sector has always been marked by corruption. Many influential people are involved in investments along the shore, and they are not motivated to settle this issue. On the other hand, since 2017, many illegal settlements on the coast were legalized, notably all that were builtbefore 1994. And even when authorities get their hands exceptionally on illegal settlements, they are more interested in investment then in conservation. We have never seen an illegal building being demolished to this day.”

Environmental degradation: nearly 6% of the GDP

This lack of effective management of the coast and illegal occupation of the shores comes at a high cost. “The cost of coastal environmental degradation was equivalent to 5.9% of GDP in 2023. By governorate, Mount Lebanon (3%) followed by Northern Lebanon (1.1%) bear the brunt of the degradation. By category, water bodies (2.5%) followed by ambient air (1.5%) are the most impacted by pollution and degradation”, explains Fadi Doumani, environmental economist and independent consultant.

The illegal occupation of large portions of the coast also has a huge impact on the touristic sector. “In economics, it is called rent seeking: in other words, some economic actors are infringing the law of the land by encroaching on the public domain leading to the appropriation of access to the coast/sea and the capturing of some resources, including ecosystem services”, he says.

Advocating for environmental justice needs effective tools. In the current situation, Josyane Yazbeck believes relying on Environmental impact assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA, for larger projects) – to be reviewed by the Ministry of Environment – could help preventing new encroachments on the coast. “Of course, the decree on EIA and SEA has its flaws, but applied strictly, it could prevent more damage to the coast”, she says.

All the coast is a “sensitive area”

To reverse the situation, the draft law prepared by a team of experts in the frame of the new ICZM (Integrated Coastal Zone Management) project, in collaboration with PAP/RAC, a United Nations Mediterranean agency, will be a precious ally. “A new ICZM law and strategy would be a game-changer for Lebanon by introducing a unified, transparent, and sustainable framework to manage the coastline. It would clearly define the public maritime domain, prevent illegal encroachments, integrate environmental, social, and economic priorities, and promote resilience to climate change”, according to Karen Nawwar, a member of the team working on the ICZM project.

Josyane Yazbeck, one of the writers of this draft law, mentions a new notion that is to be included in the text. “In the draft, we consider the entirety of the coast as a sensitive area, and not just limited public domain, which would change the general perception on coastal management”, she specifies.

Economic and financial measures will also be included in the overall coastal management, according to Fadi Doumani, himself a member of this team. “After defining land and maritime use and developing or updating the land and maritime plans, the shoreline could be managed in a sustainable and resilient manner, following the implication of all relevant sectors and all stakeholders (public sector, private sector, communities, etc.). At this stage, policy instruments that include regulatory, fiscal, market-based and moral persuasion instruments could be used to change behavior and reach sustainable and resilient management of the coastal zone and the maritime environment.”

A “shared public space”

In this process, it is necessary to involve the public. “To bring shoreline protection into the public debate, it is essential to start with raising awareness about legal rights, supporting grassroots movements, and involving youth, universities, and civil society, to advocate and apply pressure for reclaiming the coast as a shared public space”, says Karen Nawwar.

This cause has been championed by civil society for years. “Civil society monitors and acts as a warning system, documenting environmental damage and regulatory violations”, advocates Clara el-Khoury, president of the Lebanese Coastal Forum.

She adds: “Civil society is able to mobilize and raise awareness to create a collective consciousness, and to put pressure on local and political authorities to adopt more protective policies - just as it can take legal action against people or companies that harm the environment.”   Despite the gloomy picture of the coastal management in Lebanon, Clara el-Khoury, who is also member of the ICZM team, recalls quite a few achievements over the years. “Civil society in Lebanon has developed expertise in this field, especially in networking and coordination between the various local players, creating coalitions. Lebanese Coastal Forum aims at strengthening this coordination.” She believes “the ICZM law will be a valuable tool for strengthening civil society action in Lebanon”.