The battle to save Lebanon's pristine Adonis Valley
Lebanon has a shortage of water. The government says its current supply is 25 percent less than what the country needs. That is due to numerous factors, including an influx of refugees and an expansion of the agriculture sector.
Construction of the Jannah Dam in the Adonis Valley in Mount Lebanon began in 2012. But even as 55,000 trees are cut and the bulldozers clear land, the battle to stop the project is as intense as ever. The hope is that the dam will produce enough water and electricity to supply Beirut and the city of Byblos.
Environmentalists are concerned that the dam will alter the pristine landscape. Already, the naked mountain faces where the trees have been razed are a stark contrast to the lush cedar trees that seem to soar to the clouds. Opponents say studies show the soil in the area is not ideal as it will absorb the water.
[Full article here | photo by Paul Saad]
