The Lebanon Mountain Trail Foundation supports initiatives that protect Lebanon’s natural heritage, conserve biodiversity, promote responsible trail development, and encourage people to understand and value the landscapes through which the LMT passes.
On the Ground
Building a Framework for Trails Across Lebanon
The Lebanon Mountain Trail Association has developed extensive expertise in trail management and development over many years. Its experience provides a valuable model for creating trails that are safe, sustainable, and integrated into rural landscapes.
LMTA is collaborating with LIBNOR (the Lebanese Standards Institution) on the development of National Trail Standards, an important initiative designed to establish consistent technical, safety, environmental, and management standards for trails across Lebanon.
Drawing on international experience from trail systems in countries including Switzerland, France, and the USA, these standards aim to provide a framework for future trail development while protecting natural landscapes and improving the quality and safety of outdoor experiences.
Discovering Lebanon’s Geological Heritage
Lebanon’s mountains reveal millions of years of geological history. Geotrails in Jbeil and Akkar allow visitors to explore this heritage while connecting geological features with the landscapes and communities that surround them.
In Jbeil, trails highlight Jurassic limestone formations, caves, and marine fossil beds that reveal Lebanon’s ancient geological past. In Akkar, developments in Mechmech and Qammouaa showcase volcanic formations, karst landscapes, fossil records, and Lebanon’s largest Nordmann Fir forest.
Together, these trails provide an outdoor learning experience that encourages appreciation of Lebanon’s geological and natural heritage.
Geotrails include:
- Ehmez – El Aaqoura Geotrail
- Ehmez – Balouaa Baatara Geotrail
- Jaj Nature Reserve Geotrail
- Jord El Aaqoura Geotrail
- Meshmesh Geotrail
Protecting Lebanon’s Natural Heritage
The Lebanon Mountain Trail passes through a remarkable diversity of mountain ecosystems and provides an opportunity to raise awareness of their importance.
Through its support for the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association and aligned conservation initiatives, the Foundation contributes to efforts that promote biodiversity protection, environmental awareness, and responsible use of natural areas.
One example is the work in Baskinta to protect endemic flora. The landscapes along the LMT are home to species including the Lebanon Cedar (Cedrus libani), Lebanese Violet, and Wild Peony, as well as wildlife such as the Striped Hyena, Rock Hyrax, and migratory birds including the Lesser Spotted Eagle.
By encouraging responsible stewardship and greater awareness, these initiatives help protect Lebanon’s ecological heritage for future generations.
Preserving Traditional Knowledge of Wild Edible Plants
Wild edible plants are an important part of Lebanon’s mountain biodiversity and traditional food culture. Generations of rural communities have gathered and prepared plants such as Qors’anneh (Eryngo), Khubbeizeh (Mallow), Hindbeh (Dandelion), Gundelia (Akkoob), Wild Thyme, Shumar (Fennel), and Qorra (Watercress).
Training and tasting activities help preserve this traditional knowledge while promoting responsible foraging and sustainable harvesting.
By connecting biodiversity with food heritage, these initiatives demonstrate how conservation and cultural traditions can reinforce one another.
Connecting Knowledge and Expertise
The Lebanon Mountain Trail Association’s international partnerships connect Lebanon with trail organizations and experts around the world, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, technical cooperation, and the sharing of good practices in sustainable trail development and conservation.
Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Trails
The Lebanon Mountain Trail Association is a co-founding member of the Med Trails Network (MTN), bringing together trail organizations, experts, and related groups from across the Mediterranean.
The network provides a platform for sharing knowledge and experience in trail development, conservation, sustainable tourism, and rural development.
Current participating countries include: France, Greece, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Tunisia, and Türkiye.
MTN Board Game
Connecting the LMT to the Global Trails Community
The Lebanon Mountain Trail Association is a co-founding member of the World Trails Network (WTN), a global network of trail organizations, advocates, and professionals.
Through WTN, LMTA participates in international knowledge exchange and initiatives focused on trail development, conservation, sustainable tourism, and cooperation among trail communities worldwide.
LMTA also contributes to initiatives including the World Trails Conference, International Trails Task Teams, and Friendship Trails.
Technical Cooperation with France
In September 2024, the Lebanon Mountain Trail Association and the Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre (FFRandonnée) signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a framework for cooperation.
The partnership facilitates the exchange of expertise in trail development, maintenance, waymarking, and safety, helping strengthen trail management capacity and support high standards for sustainable trail development in Lebanon.
Building Connections Through Walking
The Friendship Trails initiative, developed through the World Trails Network, connects long-distance trails and trail organizations across countries and cultures.
The initiative promotes international cooperation, cultural exchange, knowledge sharing, sustainable tourism, and environmental stewardship.
The Lebanon Mountain Trail Association currently has five Friendship Trail partnerships:
- Bruce Trail Conservancy — Canada
- Jeju Olle — South Korea
- Trilha Transcarioca — Brazil
- Crans Montana — Switzerland
- Sendero Pacifico — Costa Rica
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