LEBANON — Lebanon’s apple sector is facing growing threats from climate change, prompting the Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to launch a national initiative aimed at protecting farmers’ livelihoods and preserving one of the country’s agricultural heritage sectors.
According to the Ministry of Environment, climate change is directly affecting the delicate ecological balance required for apple cultivation, with projections indicating potential production losses of 10% to 30% by 2050 in several key growing regions.
Climate Challenges Threaten Apple Cultivation
For generations, Lebanese apple production has benefited from the country’s mountainous landscapes, cold winters, and water availability, allowing farmers to cultivate several varieties, including Starking Delicious, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, and Royal Gala.
However, environmental authorities warn that multiple climate pressures are increasingly affecting the sector, including:
Declining snowfall: Warmer winters are reducing snow cover, limiting the essential chilling hours required by apple trees to break dormancy and prepare for flowering.
Rising temperatures: Irregular temperature fluctuations are disrupting flowering cycles, fruit development, and overall seasonal yields.
Water scarcity: Rising irrigation needs combined with declining water resources are increasing production costs and threatening fruit quality.
Extreme weather events and pests: Farmers are facing more frequent heatwaves, sudden droughts, late frosts, hailstorms, and the spread of pests and diseases linked to warmer conditions.
The Ministry of Environment stated that for Lebanon’s apple farmers, climate change means “fewer chilling hours, increased water demand, declining productivity, and a direct threat to livelihoods.”
A Sector Beyond Agriculture
The impact of the crisis extends beyond orchards. The apple sector supports thousands of rural families, contributes to local economies across Lebanon’s mountainous regions, and represents an important pillar of the country’s food security and agricultural heritage.
A Roadmap for Climate Resilience
In response to these growing risks, the Ministry of Environment, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Lebanon and funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), has launched a framework to help local communities adapt to climate impacts.
The initiative focuses on communities in the upper basin of Nahr El Kalb, aiming to identify climate risks and implement adaptation solutions, including:
Crop adaptation: Introducing apple varieties that are more resilient to warmer climate conditions.
Water resource management: Improving water management and modernizing irrigation systems to increase efficiency.
Data-driven planning: Strengthening climate-smart agricultural planning through localized and real-time weather data.
Early warning systems: Installing field monitoring stations to alert farmers about frost, hail, and heatwave risks.
Community empowerment: Organizing training workshops that bring together experts, decision-makers, and farmers to exchange sustainable solutions.
The initiative aims to promote climate-resilient farming practices, protect Lebanon’s rural economy, and help preserve historic apple orchards as they face accelerating climate challenges.
