Nizar Hani

Regional Vice Chair, North Africa, West Asia, Middle East. Nizar Hani, Biochemistry Diploma, Master in Agricultural Sciences, PHD student in Ethnobotany, his PHD research includes an ethnobotanical survey of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve, IUCN Green listed Protected Area (PA). Nizar Hani is currently the Director General of Shouf Biosphere Reserve (SBR), the largest PA in Lebanon and covers 5% of its territory. His focus lately is on the forest and landscape restoration programs and all related activities, biomass management, sustainable agriculture, value chains, grazing management, ecotourism, environmental awareness, and local community practical involvement. Nizar Hani recognized in 2021 from Italy with the Knight of the order of the star of Italy because of the effective partnerships that he created with the Italian PAs and Italian nature protection partners as well as IUCN in 2020 awarded him the WCPA Kinton Miller Award for his advanced management of the SBR. He is also the Co-chair of the Lebanon IUCN national committee, President of the Mediterranean Experience of Eco-tourism (MEET) Association and he is a member of the IUCN Green List EAGL group of West Asia. He is the winner of the UNESCO Youth scientist award in 2013 and the UNESCO (Man and Biosphere Reserve program), Miche l Batisse Award in 2011 as well as awarded the UN volunteers in Lebanon in 2005.