Palm islands

Territory :

These flat rocky-sandy islands include the Palm (or Rabbit) island, Sanani island, and Ramkine (or Fanar) island. They form with their 500 meters belt of surrounding sea the nature reserve where the central Palm island is distant 600 meters from Sanani to the south-east and another 600 meters from Ramkine to the north-west.

Physical characteristic :

Palm Island is the largest of the three islands is flat with no obvious relief; its highest point is only about 6m above sea level. The island contains evidence of past periods of human occupation in the form of a fresh water well, old Salinas and the remains of an old church that date back to the Crusader period. The well was cleaned and the water used to irrigate 570 palm trees planted on the island. Sanani Island is located southeast of Palm Island and is mainly rocky with a partially sandy shore that resembles that of Palm Island. Finally, Ramkine Island is the smallest island, and located northwest of Palm Island. It is mostly rocky and rises to about 12 meters above sea level. The island contains the remains of a lighthouse in addition to cannon emplacements and underground galleries that were built early in the twentieth century. Recently, solar powered navigation light has been installed in the tower of the old lighthouse.

Specificity and importance :

The reserve is typical Mediterranean and is of high significance for many aspects. The whole reserve is a stopover site for 156 migrating and wintering bird species which use it for resting, sheltering and roosting. Islands' beach which is clean and safe, is ideal for turtle nesting whilst such conditions are not provided on most of the continental beaches. The islands have sandy beaches made out from shell fragments and used by local community for therapeutic reasons. The plants on the islands witness the past beach flora of Lebanon. The rocky insular habitat is essential for the breeding of gulls. It constitutes the only place in Lebanon and east Mediterranean area where sea birds breed.

Threats and Pressures :

Despite the fact that the natural reserve is uninhabited, it remains a site of attraction for recreational (swimming in non-polluted water, sun bathing, scuba diving, and hiking), educational and research activities. Fishing and hunting are not allowed. The human activities that impact the reserve are generally 4 types:

Limited illegal dynamiting for fish harvesting near the islands of the reserve. This behavior has affected the peripheral rocks of the islands which became subjected to cracks and drowning

Illegal collection of sea shells by divers of neighboring villages from the reserve’s surrounding for commercial business. This type of taking destroys the food chain around the reserve and most probably within its boundary

The large number of visitors during the summer time which may create pollution and destroy the vegetation cover of the supra-littoral zone, especially those plants which play a role in fixing the dunes

The introduced rabbits in 1982 which is causing continuous degradation to the vegetation cover, a matter that leads to an exceptional repeated vegetation progressive dynamic; and

The anchoring of the huge number of boats in summer time destroys the infra-littoral zone.

Ecological characteristics :

The habitats of the islands are of 3 terrestrial types (rocky, sandy and earthen) and 7 marine types (sandy supralittoral, mediolittoral and infralittoral; rocky supralittoral, mediolittoral and infralittoral; and sandy infralittoral with sea grass. The list of regionally protected species by international agreements comprises 3 marine plants, 11 mollusca species, 3 marine turtles, 13 bird and 3 mammal species.

Management :

Minestry of environment, Lara Samaha L.Samaha@moe.gov.lb

Currently, the reserve is managed by the Ministry of the Environment in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry of Defense is in charge of patrolling the area to avoid poaching. The natural reserve is covered by a management plan that was developed for the period 2000- 2005 and updated for the period 2008-2013 and complemented by guidelines for the management of Palm Islands in 2009 to guide the management of the reserve. The number of visitors increases in correlation with the demographic development. Thus, it is expected that more damage will occur from stepping, anchoring, and waste generated.

Geographical position :

The reserve is situated at 5.5 km north-west of the shore of Mina in Tripoli.