Sustaining the ecological functions of the Litani River Basin, Lebanon

Although Lebanon has the highest mean annual rainfall of all Middle Eastern countries, it is affected by water stress, negatively impacting agricultural food production, energy generation, and undermine ecosystem functions. The Bekaa area, where upper Litani River Basin (LRB) located, suffers serious quality quantity problems, which threaten productivity public health. Most domestic industrial in basin left untreated. This study investigates prevailing management issues basin. analysis provides a critical reflection on indicators using Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), to ‘ensure availability sustainable sanitation for all’. Results based author’s observations evidence from published reports papers, since early nineties, showed existing approaches fall short mitigate negative impact environmental problems LRB, particularly low (indicator 6.3) inefficient use 6.4). Progress achieving integrated 6.5) LRB limited. Persistent challenges remain due weak governance, insufficient capacity, law enforcement, must be targeted public-private partnership.