NNA - The 'Cedars for Care' (CFC) Association has launched a volunteer and prevention campaign titled "Our Forest Will Return" to clean parts of Beirut Forest and reduce the risk of wildfires, which will continue through September 5, 2026.
The campaign launching, held in Beirut Forest this morning, was supported by media coverage and the participation of Information Minister, Attorney Dr. Paul Morcos, with the sponsorship of Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud and Beirut Mayor Ibrahim Zaidan.
The initiative brought together CFC President Afaf Idriss, members of Beirut’s municipal council, the Lebanese Scouts Federation, the Lebanese Guides and Rangers Federation, Dar Al-Aytam Al-Islamia, Lions and Rotary clubs, the Lebanese Red Cross, the Lebanese Army, Civil Defense, and several environmental and scouting organizations.
Speaking at the event, the Information Minister thanked the volunteers, associations and scouting groups taking part, stressing their commitment to caring for Beirut Forest. He said the initiative reflects the efforts of Beirut’s governor and mayor to create space for civil society to work alongside public authorities in pursuit of the common good and public interest.
Morcos added that the participation of the Information Ministry and media coverage of the campaign are essential to turning the symbolic initiative into a "positive contagion" that can spread to forests and public spaces across the country in need of care and attention.
He praised the volunteers and participating organizations, urging them to move from words to action and highlighting the importance of Beirut Forest both environmentally and as a social space that brings Beirut residents together.
Morcos said the Information Ministry would continue highlighting such initiatives in the media, expressing hope that the campaign would expand in a decentralized manner to other areas in need of similar efforts.
"Every one of you could have stayed home today, but you chose to think of your country and contribute to serving it," Morcos said, hailing the efforts of those partaking in the initiative launching.
In an issued statement, the 'Cedars for Care' association stressed that the current campaign is not a one-off cleanup activity, but rather an urgent preventive measure and the beginning of a sustainable approach to managing and protecting Beirut Forest.
The association said wildfire prevention must begin before fires occur by reducing dry and combustible vegetation, clearing and weeding parts of the forest, improving access, and protecting trees and plant cover.
It added that the broader goal is to make the protection of Beirut Forest an ongoing community responsibility. The campaign’s launch drew wide participation, with more associations and volunteers expected to join through September 5, laying the groundwork for a Beirut-based national gathering to protect the capital’s forest.
