Fadi Ghanem Presents the " Hima Eco Media " Concept from Abu Dhabi: A Lebanese Innovation in Protecting Nature and Culture

"Ghadi News"

Fadi Ghanem, President of Ghadi Association, member of the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication (CEC), and Chair of the IUCN National Committee in Lebanon, participated in the IUCN World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi. Representing Lebanon in several panel discussions and international meetings, he spoke about the concept of Hima as a cultural and community-based tool for managing natural resources, highlighting its evolution into the Hima Eco Media, a new generation of committed and sustainable environmental media.

Hima: From Heritage to the Present

During his speech at the session “Linking Nature to Culture”, Ghanem emphasized that the relationship between nature and culture is the “root of shared human identity,” stating:

"Our natural and cultural heritage is so intertwined that it is difficult to separate them, and protecting both together is a responsibility that transcends national boundaries and extends to the entire world."

He noted that Lebanon provides a distinctive example of this interconnection through sites that integrate cultural and environmental dimensions, such as Byblos, Tyre, Anjar, and the Qadisha Valley, where historical heritage merges with biodiversity, making these areas symbols of human-nature interaction over time.

Ghanem also highlighted the Lebanese experience in Hima management, led by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL), which has revived this traditional Arab concept through a modern scientific approach combining local participation with environmental protection. This model has become a regional reference in IUCN initiatives.

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Hima Eco Media: A New Concept Emerges

Ghanem discussed the evolution of Hima to include digital and virtual spaces, explaining:

"In the age of digital media, Hima is no longer only a physical area governed by customs and laws; it has become a digital space for protection and influence, where media itself transforms into a tool for safeguarding environmental awareness and fostering values of participation and responsibility."

From this perspective, he introduced the concept of Hima Eco Media, a new generation of environmental media based on three main pillars:

1. Scientific Awareness: Disseminating environmental knowledge based on data and research on biodiversity, climate change, and sustainable resource management.

2. Community Participation: Turning audiences from passive receivers into active partners in producing environmental content, creating a network of individuals and institutions committed to nature protection.

3. Cultural and Media Empowerment: Reconnecting the environment with identity and values, making the protection of natural resources part of active citizenship and collective responsibility.

He added:

"Committed environmental media today forms a digital Hima that protects truth from misinformation, awareness from indifference, and nature from neglect—through words, images, and participation."

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Ghadi News: The World’s First Sustainable Environmental Media Hima

Ghanem highlighted the Lebanese platform Ghadi News (www.ghadinews.net) as the first fully integrated sustainable Environmental Media Hima - Hima Eco Media - in the Arab world and globally, transforming Lebanon into a hub for interactive environmental media aimed at protecting truth and building a culture of sustainability.

"Since its inception, Ghadi News has not been just a news platform; it is an interactive Hima that operates on the philosophy of partnership and responsibility, connecting science with society and turning environmental knowledge into a force for positive change," Ghanem said.

He outlined several features that make Ghadi News a global model for green media:

• Reliance on scientific and analytical journalism as a trusted source for researchers and activists.

• Establishment of a network of environmental reporters and activists, extending the concept of community-based digital Hima.

• Integration of environment, culture, and national identity into a balanced, purposeful media narrative.

• Development of partnerships with television channels, educational institutions, and local NGOs to enhance environmental awareness and engagement.

Ghanem emphasized:

"Ghadi News demonstrates that Hima can extend beyond the land to become a platform where values and knowledge are preserved—stretching from forests and valleys to digital spaces and the hearts of people."

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Nature and Culture: Foundations for Peace and Identity

Concluding his speech, Ghanem stressed that protecting nature and culture together is not a luxury, but a practical approach for building peace and sustainable development:

"When we protect nature, we protect human memory; when we preserve culture, we give nature a meaning that transcends borders."

This initiative was formally recognized when the former Lebanese Minister of Information declared Ghadi News the first Hima Eco Media platform of its kind in the world, solidifying Lebanon’s pioneering role in integrating media with Hima and transforming media platforms into digital spaces for environmental protection and awareness.