The Plant Nursery

Inaugurated in 1999

Partners

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF)

Objectives

To encourage reforestation and improve existing green spaces through the use of modern gardening methods.
To create green spaces in neighboring villages in cooperation with local municipalities.
To raise awareness among the local population of the importance of green spaces and to educate them in various methods of maintenance.
To introduce new varieties of fruits that are resistant to illness and well-adapted to the local climate.

Beneficiaries

Farmers and small landowners who are given fruit plants in exchange for a symbolic contribution.
Local rural municipalities: RMF provides them with trees in order to multiply green spaces in villages and beautify the streets.
Ecological clubs.

The plant nursery consists of local forest trees and imported fruit trees. The nursery tracks all plants grown using a computer tracking and tagging system. The nursery is currently developing a manual for farmers on how to start an orchard.

Forest trees: Every year, 25,000 plants of about 15 species (cedars of Lebanon, pine trees, carob trees, oak trees, cypress, etc.) are grown. The objective is to enhance reforestation while preserving biodiversity and the genetic identity of Lebanese forests. These activities are conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, municipalities, and environmental clubs. In each of 2004 and 2005, over 10,000 trees were sold (at a nominal price) or distributed for free.

Fruit trees: The main tree varieties are apple, pear, peach, prune, apricot, nectarine, and olive. The plant nursery provides farmers with healthy saplings of new fruit varieties of certified quality that respond to consumer demands. Saplings are sold at 20% of the market prices.
The nursery has 3 pilot orchards; in Zgharta, Ehden and Akkar. New varieties of apples, nectarines and apricots have been tested successfully and introduced to the area. Altogether, over 30,000 saplings have been planted: apple, pear, plum, apricot, peach, nectarine, grape, fig, avocado, cherry, olive and pomegranate trees.

[Click here to visit the photogalleries:
Forest trees - Olive trees - Fruit trees]