1. General information
2. Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The Beirut RiverLESS research project explored how this natural riparian ecosystem was transformed into a sewage infrastructure, a no man's land, which inhibited the rich cultural practices around the site. As part of the project, the goals of the intervention are:
1. To provide fresh water in the area of Daychounieh to the city through the Roman aqueducts for irrigation and potable water supply and to transport sediments, organisms, and nutrients.
2. To treat and store water as well as control erosion, mitigate impacts of floods and storms, and filter waste through natural processes.
3. To offer food, shelter, and water to living organisms as it acts as a vital migratory path to several soaring birds.
4. To provide a natural space for recreation and cultural events for communities, such as the renowned Armenian water festival Vardavar where Armenians traditionally gathered around the river and drenched themselves in water.
5. To implement a holistic pilot project with small-scale urban interventions such as Blue-Green streets (to reduce pollution and manage floods affecting the nearby economic hub), utilising rooftops for rainwater collection and solar energy, and providing public parks for recreational activities.
6. To reduce noise and dust and to increase Carbon-dioxide absorption (1,2,3,4).
1. To provide fresh water in the area of Daychounieh to the city through the Roman aqueducts for irrigation and potable water supply and to transport sediments, organisms, and nutrients.
2. To treat and store water as well as control erosion, mitigate impacts of floods and storms, and filter waste through natural processes.
3. To offer food, shelter, and water to living organisms as it acts as a vital migratory path to several soaring birds.
4. To provide a natural space for recreation and cultural events for communities, such as the renowned Armenian water festival Vardavar where Armenians traditionally gathered around the river and drenched themselves in water.
5. To implement a holistic pilot project with small-scale urban interventions such as Blue-Green streets (to reduce pollution and manage floods affecting the nearby economic hub), utilising rooftops for rainwater collection and solar energy, and providing public parks for recreational activities.
6. To reduce noise and dust and to increase Carbon-dioxide absorption (1,2,3,4).
Quantitative targets
Protecting 70,000 soaring birds of 33 different species: 51,000 European honey-buzzards, over 5000 Levant sparrow hawks, over 5,000 common buzzards, over 5,000 lesser spotted eagles, 10 crested honey-buzzards, 8,000 white storks, and 3,500 white pelicans.
Planting over 1,200 trees from 16 different native species: 16 different native species
Increasing up to 30 times the Carbon-dioxide absorption
Reducing with 30 times the noise and dust reduction.
Impacting the quality of life of 80,000 inhabitants dorectly (population of the neighborhood targeded, Sin el Fil Municipality) (1,2,3,4)
Planting over 1,200 trees from 16 different native species: 16 different native species
Increasing up to 30 times the Carbon-dioxide absorption
Reducing with 30 times the noise and dust reduction.
Impacting the quality of life of 80,000 inhabitants dorectly (population of the neighborhood targeded, Sin el Fil Municipality) (1,2,3,4)
Monitoring indicators defined
Number of people benefiting from the intervention
Types of plants used and no if trees planted
Number of species protected
CO2 absorption rate
Noise and dust reduction rate (1, ,3,4)
Types of plants used and no if trees planted
Number of species protected
CO2 absorption rate
Noise and dust reduction rate (1, ,3,4)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate change mitigation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Implementation activities
There is a trend toward turning more natural ecosystems into artificial infrastructures. With the Beirut River, it became evident that the communities living downstream of the river suffered the most from its pollution. The river developed into a no-man’s-land and became a dumping ground affected by every crisis the city has gone through. To reverse the damaged ecological state of the river and its surrounding communities, theOtherDada, Afforestt, and SUGi partnered to implement the Beirut River Afforestation Project, a two-hundred-square-mile urban forest using native vegetation. In order to better understand the condition of the existing soil before land preparation, physical and chemical soil tests were performed. The soil was tested for organic matter content, electric conductivity, and other chemical components. It was then found to be good enough to host plant growth after the addition of soil amendments, so after clearing the soil from all construction debris and waste, the team proceeded to mix it with biomass such as organic compost, and mushroom compost, barley husk, and straw. The addition of the biomass aerated the heavy soil and enriched it with organic matter, which is crucial for the saplings’ growth.
In order to further assist the plants’ growth and help them establish faster in the foreign soil, the participants prepared a compost tea liquid to inoculate this soil with beneficial microbial life by brewing a mix of local carob molasses and crushed ripe seasonal fruit. Although it was recommended that only organic fruits would be used for the compost tea brew (as pesticides can hinder microbial growth), it was very difficult to procure large quantities of organic fruit in Lebanon. The team, therefore, had to rely on a mix of organic and non-organic fruit. The mix was successful nevertheless and proved to be effective as the plants became lush after being irrigated with the brew in only a few days and started showing new growth after only one week. (1,2)
In order to further assist the plants’ growth and help them establish faster in the foreign soil, the participants prepared a compost tea liquid to inoculate this soil with beneficial microbial life by brewing a mix of local carob molasses and crushed ripe seasonal fruit. Although it was recommended that only organic fruits would be used for the compost tea brew (as pesticides can hinder microbial growth), it was very difficult to procure large quantities of organic fruit in Lebanon. The team, therefore, had to rely on a mix of organic and non-organic fruit. The mix was successful nevertheless and proved to be effective as the plants became lush after being irrigated with the brew in only a few days and started showing new growth after only one week. (1,2)
3. NBS domains, ES and scale
4. Governance and financing
5. Innovation
Type of innovation
Please specify technological innovation
The project was implemented using the Miyawaki Technique, which is a unique methodology proven to work worldwide, irrespective of soil and climatic conditions. More than 3,000 forests have been successfully created worldwide using this methodology. Benefits of this technique are up to 30 times denser compared to conventional plantations; 30 times better noise and dust reduction; up to 30 times better Carbon-dioxide absorption as compared to a monoculture plantation; a completely maintenance-free, wild and native forest after the first three years; a completely chemical and chemical fertiliser free forest that sustains itself and supports local bio-diversity. (4)
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The OtherDada developed a comparative table measuring the environmental performance and ecosystem of several international rivers. Those case studies were examined showing how restorative interventions transformed rivers from
artificial to natural stream waterways, such as the Cheonggyecheon stream in Seoul, which was once buried and covered by a freeway, and the Wadi Hanifa Project in Saudi Arabia where the sewage and waste water of the city of Riyadh used to flow. (5)
artificial to natural stream waterways, such as the Cheonggyecheon stream in Seoul, which was once buried and covered by a freeway, and the Wadi Hanifa Project in Saudi Arabia where the sewage and waste water of the city of Riyadh used to flow. (5)
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
The project aims to implement the same measures in different parts of Beirut in the next years. (1)
