Asset-building payments for ecosystem services:Assessing landowner perceptions of reforestation incentives in Lebanon

Aim of study: Incentivising landowners to supply ecosystem services remains challenging, especially when this requires long-term investments such as reforestation. We investigated how landowners perceive, and would respond to, distinct types of incentives for planting diverse native trees on private lands in Lebanon. Our aim was to understand landowners’ attitudes towards hypothetical Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) contracts options; their likely participation; and the potential additionality they would provide.  Area of study: Highland villages situated within eight of Lebanon’s 20 Important Plant Areas  Materials and methods: Mixed-methods surveys were conducted with 34 landowners to determine past, present and future land-use strategies. Study participants were presented with three differently structured reforestation contract options (or schemes). The three schemes (results-based loan, action-based grant, and results-based payments) differed in their expected risks and benefits to landowners. Qualitative debriefing questions followed each of the schemes presented.  Main results: Although the results-based loan did deter uptake relative to the lower risk action-based grant, results-based payments did not significantly increase uptake or planting area, suggesting asymmetric attitudes to risk. Qualitative probing revealed economic, social (e.g. trust) and institutional factors (e.g. legal implications of planting forest trees on private land) that limited willingness to participate in the results-based contract option.  Research highlights: This study demonstrates the importance of combining qualitative and quantitative methods to better understand landowner perceptions of incentives and risks, particularly in challenging socio-political contexts

A content analysis of nature photographs taken by Lebanese rural youth.

'Living in Harmony with Nature' is a 2050 vision put forth by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which takes into consideration culture and locality of perceptions of nature and aspirations for its use. Considering that 54% of the world population lives in cities, where nature has been decimated, the role of rural communities, living within or in proximity of natural and semi natural areas, will effectively influence the fate of the 'remaining' nature while they engage in local development. Reconciling between growth and development on the one hand, and nature conservation on the other, necessitates an understanding of how rural communities, especially the youth, imprint their own ideas on landscapes and develop ownership over natural spaces. In order to extend the understanding of how harmony with nature is perceived in different parts of the world, this paper presents the findings of primary research involving a group of young people who live in rural areas in Lebanon, a country in the Arab Middle East. Participatory research based on photovoice methodology was conducted with 77 young people aged 7-16 and residing in five rural villages located in different parts of Lebanon. Photographs taken by participants indicated that for many, nature was not perceived literally i.e. woodlands, forests, plants, animals, etc…. Instead, the participants saw nature as part of agriculture and local culture. Nature was also seen as symbolic expression of the participants' inner state of mind. Narratives written to explain the photographs shed light on the perception of harmony with nature which focused on positive family experiences and relayed personal emotions, abstract, and holistic yet functional view of nature. Another recurring theme that emerged from photographs and narratives was the role of family members, in particular grandparents, as having a strong influence on the positive perceptions of nature

Sample photographs taken by Lebanese rural youth to express their perception of nature.

<p>Sample photographs taken by Lebanese rural youth to express their perception of nature.</p

Pie chart representing relative frequency at which Lebanese rural youth (aged 7–16) narrated photographs of nature using different theme topics (n = 69).

<p>Pie chart representing relative frequency at which Lebanese rural youth (aged 7–16) narrated photographs of nature using different theme topics (n = 69).</p

Themes and number of narratives produced under each theme by Lebanese rural youth, ages of 7 and 16, to illustrate how they see nature, who or what influenced them to care for nature, and what they would like to keep for future generations (n = 69).

<p>Themes and number of narratives produced under each theme by Lebanese rural youth, ages of 7 and 16, to illustrate how they see nature, who or what influenced them to care for nature, and what they would like to keep for future generations (n = 69).</p

Pie chart representing relative frequency at which Lebanese rural youth (aged 7–16) took photographs of nature falling under different themes (n = 77).

<p>Pie chart representing relative frequency at which Lebanese rural youth (aged 7–16) took photographs of nature falling under different themes (n = 77).</p

Location of case study villages in Lebanon.

<p>1, Michmich (S4), 2, Arsal (S1), 3, Barouk (S3), 4, Ain Zebdeh (S2) 5, Deir Zahrani (S5).</p

Themes and number of photographs taken under each them by Lebanese rural youth, ages of 7 and 16, to illustrate how they see nature, who or what influenced them to care for nature, and what they would like to keep for future generations (n = 77).

<p>Themes and number of photographs taken under each them by Lebanese rural youth, ages of 7 and 16, to illustrate how they see nature, who or what influenced them to care for nature, and what they would like to keep for future generations (n = 77).</p

Socioeconomic Dynamics of Vermicomposting Systems in Lebanon

Vermicomposting is a sustainable means of waste management, rural development, and eco-agricultural improvement. This study examines its potential in Lebanon, specifically from a microenterprise angle. First, we conducted four interviews with rural residents already practicing vermicomposting, and the interviews reveal that community-scale vermicomposting enterprises hold considerable promise. This positive feedback led us to undertake a feasibility study that examines the economic dynamics of a micro-vermicompost industry across three sectors. We calculate that the government or municipalities who pay for waste management stand to save $1901 per ton of vermicompost produced due to a reduction in the amount of solid waste requiring collection, handling, and processing. According to the microenterprise model proposed here, one ton of vermicast could sell for$1,970. The farmer/ consumer can expect approximately $110–$350 in additional income from applying one ton of vermicompost due to offset costs of traditional fertilizer and pesticides, reduced irrigation costs, and foregone illness expenses (associated with pesticide exposure). Combined, the value of one ton of vermicompost is estimated between $2,280 and$2,510. It becomes clear that rurally based vermicomposting microenterprises offer immediate socioeconomic advantages, such as those mentioned above, as well as a host of indirect advantages, including environmental improvements, support of local economies, and a more wholesome and locally based food system. Considering that the body of knowledge surrounding vermi¬composting is largely science-oriented, this study is significant in its contribution to the often-overlooked aspects of socioeconomics and practical application

Anti-Inflammatory and Cytostatic Activities of a Parthenolide-Like Sesquiterpene Lactone from Cota palaestina subsp. syriaca

A sesquiterpene lactone 1-β,10-Epoxy-6-hydroxy-1,10H-inunolide (K100) was isolated through “bioassay-guided fractionation” from Cota palaestina subsp. syriaca, an Eastern Mediterranean endemic plant. K100 inhibited endotoxin- (ET-) induced proinflammatory markers: IL-6, MMP-9, and NO in normal mouse mammary SCp2 Cells. Molecular docking in silico suggested that K100, having highly analogous structure as parthenolide (PTL), an anticancer compound, could bind PTL target proteins at similar positions and with comparable binding affinities. Both compounds, K100 and PTL, inhibited the proliferation and prolonged the S-phase of the cell cycle of breast adenocarcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells grown in 2D cultures. Noncytotoxic concentrations of K100 and PTL decreased the proliferation rate of MDA-MB-231 and shifted their morphology from stellate to spherical colonies in 3D cultures. This was accompanied with a significant increase in the amount of small colonies and a decrease in the amount of large colonies. Moreover, K100 and PTL decreased cellular motility and invasiveness of MDA-MB-231 cells. In summary, these results suggest that K100 exhibits PTL-analogous anti-inflammatory, cytostatic, and antimetastatic effects