BEIRUT, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon will partner in the Green Middle East project launched by Saudi Arabia, said Lebanese Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan on Wednesday, calling on more Arab countries to participate in the initiative.
"From now on, Lebanon will be part of this project... and we will work to play a positive role in dealing with the climate change and global warming issues," Hassan was quoted as saying by the National News Agency.
His remarks came during a session held within the framework of the second edition of the Arab Forum for Equality organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA) in Beirut.
Hassan said the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture developed a strategy that aligns with the Green Middle East project based on four main points: activating cooperative work, agricultural guidance, securing water, and expanding cultivated areas.
The Middle East Green Initiative aims to increase cooperation and efforts in the region to restore 200 million hectares of degraded land, plant 50 billion trees, and increase its vegetation cover by 12 times.
Hassan said that there is no country in the Arab world whose food security is not threatened, and all governments face a critical test.
Pointing out that it is unfortunate that Lebanon imports wheat to make its bread in light of the crisis, Hassan added that Lebanon has 300,000 cultivated hectares which can be expanded to 700,000 hectares.
