Lebanon (country)

C

Natural Resources

With the exception of fertile soils and the remaining forests, the natural resources of Lebanon are negligible. Iron ore exists, but is difficult to mine. Other minerals found in small quantities are coal, copper, asphalt, and phosphates.

Much of Lebanon is of the reddish-brown soil called terra rossa. Richer alluvial soils occur along the coast and in the Bekaa Valley and the north-east. Erosion is common, however, and the upper mountains are rocky and barren.

D

Environmental Concerns

Lebanon's environment was seriously damaged during the war from 1975 to 1990. During the conflict, habitat was destroyed, environmental regulations were not enforced, and conservation efforts were abandoned. Following the war, most of the Lebanese government's efforts were directed at restoring the country's basic infrastructure. In recent years, however, Lebanon has increased its commitment to environmental conservation and clean-up. Before the civil war, Lebanon was an important commercial, industrial, and banking centre. This productivity had environmental consequences, including pollution from unrestricted dumping of sewage and industrial wastes. Untreated wastes were discharged into waterways or pumped into deep holes, sometimes contaminating underground aquifers. Toxic solid wastes were deposited in municipal dumps without prior decontamination. Although the Lebanese government is working to implement more environmentally sound waste-disposal methods, many industries continue to pollute waterways and coastal areas.

Petrol sold in Lebanon is manufactured with high amounts of lead, which contributes to air pollution, especially in urban centres. The country's electricity-generating plants further pollute the atmosphere by burning fuel oil. In 1998 Lebanon announced a plan to eventually use cleaner-burning natural gas rather than fuel oil to generate electricity. Lebanon has the highest population density in the Middle East and urban sprawl threatens undeveloped areas of the country. Urban development and agricultural practices contribute to the destruction of about 7.8 per cent (1990-1996) of Lebanon's forests each year—the highest rate of deforestation in the Middle East. Consequently, soil erosion and desertification have increased in recent years. Lebanon's forests of cedar trees were renowned in antiquity, but intensive logging over the centuries has reduced the forests to a fraction of their former size. In 1997 Lebanon established the Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve, which occupies 5 per cent of the total land area of the country. Although cedar trees cover only a small percentage of the reserve, conservation groups are attempting to increase the cedar population in other areas of the park. Additional parks and reserves are planned by the Lebanese government. Land mines and other unexploded munitions left from the civil war continue to threaten the country's human and animal populations.

Lebanon has ratified international agreements intended to protect biodiversity and the ozone layer. The country has also signed treaties on limiting hazardous waste, nuclear testing, and marine pollution.

III

Population

The Lebanese are descended from many ethnic strains, mainly Semitic, and may be traced to the ancient Phoenicians, Hebrews, Philistines, Assyrians, and Arabs. Among relative newcomers are an Armenian minority of about 6 per cent. Around 12 per cent of the population are Palestinian Arabs, many of whom have been confined to refugee camps.

A

Population Characteristics

The population of Lebanon is 3,921,278 (2007 estimate); the overall density is about 383 people per sq km (993 per sq mi). About 88 per cent of the people live in urban areas.

B

Principal Cities

The capital and leading port is Beirut, with a population of 1,171,000 (2003 estimate). Tripoli (Tarabulus), with a population of 212,900 (2003 estimate), and Şaydā (Sidon), with 149,000 (2003 estimate), are both important ports and oil pipeline termini in Lebanon.