Protected Areas

Tyre Coast Nature Reserve

The Tyre Coast Nature Reserve was created under Law No. 708 on November 12, 1998. The reserve is managed by the Tyre Coast Nature Resreve committee under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment. The reserve is identified as “wetlands of international importance” by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.

Located in southern Lebanon, the Tyre Coast Nature Reserve comprises some of the best preserved sandy coastline in Lebanon. The reserve has artesian wells that date back to Phoenician times, when the city was the most important city states along the Phoenician coast. The wells are the source of the fresh water. Besides the many species of plants and marsh birds that flourish in this delicate environment, the reserve is a nesting site for the endangered Loggerhead and Green Sea Turtles. The reserve also has archeological importance for being located within Birak Ras Al-Aain, which are the artesian wells that date back to the Phoenician era.

Visitors will enjoy exploring this coastal reserve on foot, by bicycle, or with snorkels and diving equipment.

Most Popular species of the reserve:

PLANTS
CATTAIL (Typha sp.)
SEA DAFFODIL OR SAND LILY (Pancratium maritimum)

REPTILES
GREEN SEA TURTLE (Chelonia mydas)
LOGGERHEAD TURTLE (Caretta caretta)

MAMMALS
ARABIAN SPINY MOUSE (Acomys dimidiatus)
COMMON PIPISTRELLE (Pipistrellus pipistrellus pipistrellus)
EURASIAN BADGER (Meles meles canescens)

Related Articles

Back to top button