UNIFIL opens wildlife sanctuary скачать в хорошем качестве

UNIFIL opens wildlife sanctuary

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) launched on 2 June its new wildlife sanctuary, ahead of the World Environment Day observed 5 June. About 200 members of its personnel marked the day with a 20-minute hike through typical Mediterranean maquis landscape of mixed pin oak, strawberry trees, and aromatic thyme and heather covered rock. “It is a day to be an agent for change and it is an opportunity for everyone from all walks of life to show that they care for our planet,” said Roy Joblin, a representative from UNIFIL’s Division of Mission Support. “With the slogan of ‘Go Wild for Life’ we are encouraging people to change their habits and to ask friends, colleagues and officials to do what they can to reduce the demand for illegal wildlife products,” he added. Jihann Shaheen,from the Mission’s Environment Management Unit, said this day stimulates “awareness about environment and enhances political attention and public action.” Tucked in the green hills east of the UN peacekeeping mission headquarters in Naqoura, south Lebanon, and spread across an area of about 120,000 square metres, the newly opened UNIFIL Green Hill Wildlife Sanctuary hosts wild animals such as fox, porcupine, weasel and hedgehog. In addition, UNIFIL’s Indian peacekeepers contributed to the event by carrying out afforestation activities in its areas of operation in Marjayoun, about 40 kilometres east of Naqoura. The peacekeepers, joined by local authorities, planted saplings of pine and olive trees.