The war has left deep scars on Lebanon’s agriculture and environment, with wildfires ravaging forests, toxic residue from weaponry contaminating soil, and communities unable to sustain their economic livelihood on their farmlands. At the American University of Beirut (AUB), faculty, students, and researchers are taking action to address these challenges. Whether it’s collecting soil and water samples to identify contamination, offering training in safe farming practices, or planning long-term recovery strategies, the mission is to heal the land and the communities it supports. “We are preparing for the future,” says Dr. Rami Zurayk, professor and chair of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management, “so that time is not wasted and farmers can resume cultivating their land as soon as possible.”
The bombing has caused severe soil contamination due to harmful components of rockets. White phosphorus ammunition, for instance, is highly toxic, producing smoke that can ruin soil, destroy ecosystems, and spark raging fires. “Another major issue is the impact of heavy metals like nickel and lead, which infiltrate the soil, water, and plants, becoming part of the biosphere,” Zurayk adds. To address this, samples are being collected from villages along the
southern border strip, including Kfarkila, Rmeich, and Alma el-Chaab. These samples are analyzed at AUB’s Environmental Laboratory in the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture to establish methodologies for remediation.
In parallel, Dr. Hadi Jaafar, professor and chair of the Department of Agriculture, has conducted an extensive analysis of the recent war’s impact on Lebanon’s agriculture and environment. Using satellite data, Dr. Jaafar reveals that wildfires in southern Lebanon have burned over 10,800 hectares in 2024—an area four times the size of Beirut and ten times the annual average. This represents a tenfold increase in fire damage compared to previous years. The southern governorates of Nabatiye and South Lebanon have been hit hardest, with fires primarily consuming shrubland and grassland while also causing extensive damage to forested areas. In some places, the destruction has extended up to 10 kilometers inland along the 120-kilometer southern border.
Meanwhile, the Environment and Sustainable Development Unit (ESDU) in the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences is developing a two-phase food security strategy to advise on the best course of action post crisis. The first phase involves
GIS (geographical information system) mapping to identify available resources in the country. The second phase includes a desk review of published research, as well as consultations with local farmers. ESDU is also looking at strategies for long-term recovery, such as identifying crops that have the potential to thrive despite soil pollution. All proposed strategies will prioritize food security, rural livelihood restoration, and sustainable rebuilding practices, in line with ESDU’s mission.
The war on Lebanon wrought devastation not only on its people and infrastructure but also on the land itself, agricultural workers’ livelihoods, and on the food security of the entire nation. The recovery may take long and will not be easy, but AUB will be there to help, every step of the way.
We are preparing for the future, so that time is not wasted and farmers can resume cultivating their land as soon as possible.