The return of Ammiq wetland
by: Chris Naylor

A conservation project in Lebanon's Bekaa region

Lebanon plays host to an enormous number of migrating birds each spring and autumn, located as it is on one of the world's most important bird migration "highways". Most of these birds fly straight over the country, whether in spectacular flocks or singly sometimes unnoticed as they fly at night. However, many need to stop to rest, drink, and feed. Using our analogy of the birds being on a "highway" they need "service stations" to "tank up" before they continue their journey. Ammiq wetland in the west Bekaa is one of the few "natural" places left where birds can do this as so much of Lebanon is urbanised, intensively farmed or heavily shot over. The wildlife spectacle is probably at its most exuberant in spring when literally thousands of storks, cranes and pelicans wheel overhead or patrol the flooded fields around the wetland in search of frogs to eat and shelter from the spring rain squalls.

Ammiq has been providing this service for millennia. One reason that it is such a good "service station" is that it is composed of a mosaic of habitats each providing shelter and food for different species of birds. The open water pools are home to the ducks, coots and moorhens, flooded fields harbour waders, extensive reed beds are frequented by the many species of warbler and such beauties as the Bluethroat, while in the avenue of trees eagles, hawks and falcons roost.

Clearly Ammiq is a haven for birds, and much loved by bird watchers! But there is more than just birds (244 species recorded so far) with a profusion of butterflies (53 species), reptiles (15 species), moths (54 species) and mammals (22 species), and although there are only 4 species of amphibians they make up for it in sheer numbers of individuals. There are times when it is difficult not to step on frogs when visiting the marsh! Impressive as these species lists are (no other site in Lebanon has such a diversity) it is important not to forget that each species is an amazing creature in its own right from the majestic and rare Striped Hyaena to the technicolour Fire Salamander, delightful tortoises and delicate Swallow tail butterflies.

Like so much of Lebanon the Ammiq wetland has undergone great change in the recent past. Although it once covered tens of square kilometers, decades of drainage and intensification of agriculture have left a refuge of just 300 hectares. Uncontrolled fires, over grazing and huge hunting pressure severely compromised the usefulness of the wetland for wild life and once permanent pools dried each summer, so for the past 30 years the marsh became a temporary wetland. Well, that was until the current conservation project, a joint venture by the Skaff family (a major local land owner) and A Rocha Lebanon took effect. Since 1996 we have been working on reversing the damage. A programme of scientific studies has catalogued much of the flora and fauna of the area and has begun to unravel the complexities of the hydrology of the marsh. This has culminated in a management plan being drawn up for the reserve which regulates grazing by sheep and goats, (water buffalo have also been reintroduced as a better grazing animal for the health of the wetland), controls fires, prevents hunting and restricts water abstraction form the pools themselves. In addition the Skaff family have actually increased the flooded area by returning fields to reedbed and flooded pasture to the enormous benefit of the local wild life.

The A Rocha team have also established an environmental education programme that aims to bring the wonders of creation closer to the young people from schools and colleges that visit for a day of field work. Students use binoculars to watch and identify the birds swooping over the reeds, they "pond dip" to discover the fascinating underwater world of beetle larvae, tadpoles and fish and of course they learn of their responsibility to do their part in protecting this and their own part of God's wonderful creation.

For more information about the work of A Rocha: www.arocha.org