Law No. 202 of 2020 establishing the Mount Hermon Nature Reserve.

This Law, consisting of 14 articles, aims to establish the Mount Hermon (Jabal El Sheikh) Nature Reserve due to its ecological importance. In fact, (i) it is a vital biodiversity hotspot in the Mediterranean basin; (ii) its snow-covered peaks act as a natural water reservoir, feeding one of the region's largest groundwater reserves; (iii) the local diverse flora includes ancient trees like oak and mulloul, as well as rare species such as wild pear and hawthorn, and over a hundred types of medicinal plants; (iv) it provides a habitat for nationally endangered mammals, including wolves, hyenas, and wildcats; (v) it is a critical secondary migration route for numerous bird species, notably globally endangered ones like the Steppe Eagle and Eastern Imperial Eagle, and serves as a breeding ground for various smaller birds. The nature reserve can be divided, in accordance with its administrative plan, into protection zone(s) and/or controlled management zone(s) by a decision from the Minister of Environment. Article 5 outlines the rules for investment and building within the buffer zone. The Nature Reserve will be managed by an independent, five-member volunteer monitoring Committee, including environmental experts, representatives from the municipality, the Ministry of Agriculture, and environmental and development organizations. This Committee will be responsible for its administration, budget, protection, and scientific engagement, with a dedicated operational team to manage daily tasks. The Mount Hermon Nature Reserve will operate under a five-year management plan, approved by the Minister of Environment, which will detail the reserve's baseline status, highlight its objectives, and outline conservation and rehabilitation priorities. Article 10 details the prohibited actions within the reserve, specifically any action that harms it, including disrupting its ecosystem, natural balance, causing pollution, damaging biodiversity, or defacing the reserve or its buffer zone. This explicitly prohibits: logging, grazing livestock, extracting minerals, water, or soil (unless for approved scientific research), starting fires, hunting, littering, or any other detrimental activities. However, the public is permitted to visit the reserve and engage in eco-friendly activities according to its management plan. The reserve's administration will set entrance and activity fees, and all collected fees, fines, and proceeds from confiscations will be reinvested directly into improving the reserve's condition.