The statement added, “A group of walking enthusiasts in the Qadisha Valley, yesterday, Saturday, was surprised by the change in the features of the old paths and roads. They were also shocked to see bulldozers and trucks transporting the trunks of old trees, as the scene looked like a war taking place on a site that is supposed to be a world heritage landmark classified by an organization.” UNESCO: The tragedy of the situation prompted the group’s environmental guide, Samir Ghosn, to say, “We are in red hell.”
She asked in her statement: “Who has the right to touch our sacred valley, cut down old oak trees, build roads, and erase ancient archaeological paths that tourists take by walking? And how did the license to plow 430 oak trees given by the Ministry of Agriculture at the request of the head of the monastery, Father Camille Kayrouz, turn into a massacre? For perennial trees, and constructing roads 10 meters wide? Did the Ministry of Agriculture monitor the compliance of the works with the required plowing license?
He continued, “Note that any work on this site requires the approval of the relevant ministries, especially the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Environment, which are concerned with protecting this site, which was classified as a protected natural site by the Ministry of Environment in 1997, as it is considered an environmentally sensitive area, extremely important in terms of its richness in biological diversity and the fact that it constitutes A habitat for many endemic animals, plants and trees, as well as containing the Kadisha River.
He added, “This horrific crime against the environment, nature and heritage coincides with the election of Lebanese-French Vera El-Khoury Laquieh as President of the Executive Council of UNESCO, which included the Qadisha Valley on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. It is worth noting that the Monastery of St. Anthony of Qazhaya is affiliated with the Lebanese Maronite Order.” Headed by Abbot General Hadi Mahfouz, who is responsible for implementing an industrial city project on land distinguished by olive trees in the town of Basrma Al-Koura, which is part of the lands of the Our Lady of Deliverance Monastery, without conducting a prior environmental impact assessment study for implementation, contrary to environmental legislation.”
He concluded: “Isn’t it time for radical reforms in the policies of monastic orders and monasteries and the application of the concept of sustainable development that seeks a balance between the economy, society and the environment? Why are not the concepts of environmental protection that have been spread by the popes in Rome since 1990 implemented? We demand that everyone who planned, approved and carried out the Qadisha Valley massacre be held accountable.” immediately”.
2023-11-26 11:34:49
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