Power Plant Forest

Forest Report: 2021

Survival rate is low due to lack of watering. There were not the resources to organise a permanent, effective irrigation system and with the political and economic challenges facing Beirut, it has been difficult to get volunteers to get to the site and water in any consistent way.

Still, we still see growth across species with the Wild Jasmine (Jasminum angulare) reaching a height of 161cm and the Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) reaching 139cm. The smallest height is that of the Palestine Oak (Quercus calliprinos). The hope is that in year 2, watering will be done more consistently to support the forests continued development. On 30th of November 2021, over 300 native species were replanted.

Forests create awareness!

The site is very visible because situated amidst a high-traffic area, which will serve as a great awareness-raising tool.

The forest will grow in a triangular strip between 2 busy streets, next to a flyover, the chaotic highway, and with the

‘power plant of death’ as a backdrop.

An air filter next to a Power Plant

Zouk Mosbeh is home to the ‘power plant of death’, causing acute air pollution in its surrounding.

Smoke from the chimneys is visible for miles around. The spread of air pollution from the power plant makes Zouk Mosbeh one of the most polluted cities in Lebanon.

Zouk Mosbeh Air Pollution

According to Greenpeace’s air pollution report of 2018, Lebanon’s city of Jounieh, the coastal city adjacent to

Zouk Mosbeh, ranked as the 5th most air polluted region in the Arab world and 23rd in the World in terms of pollution clusters, producing record levels of nitrogen dioxide. NO2 is a dangerous pollutant released in the air when fuel, such as oil and diesel, is burned. The main sources of NO2 pollution in Jounieh are the Zouk power plant and heavy traffic.

According to Greenpeace’s air pollution report of 2020, Lebanon suffers from the highest rates of premature deaths in the MENA region due to high air pollution levels.

The annual cost in Lebanon reaches USD 1.4 billion, which is the equivalent of 2% of the country’s GDP. This, too, is one of the highest rates in the region.