On Thursday, Libya’s Parliament-designated Prime Minister, Osama Hammad, approved the establishment of a new natural reserve in the Al-Makhili area, located south of the Green Mountain in eastern Libya.
Spanning 283,647 hectares, the reserve aims to safeguard wildlife, restore ecosystems, preserve biodiversity, and tackle desertification. This move is a significant step towards environmental conservation and sustainable development in a country that has faced ecological challenges in recent years.
The decision also comes alongside a ban on the hunting of the houbara bustard, a bird species threatened by overhunting in the region.
The establishment of the Al-Makhili Nature Reserve is part of a broader national effort to protect Libya’s rich yet endangered natural heritage.
This reserve will serve as a protected area for various endangered species and promote efforts to restore ecosystems that have been severely affected by decades of environmental degradation, desertification, and over-exploitation of natural resources. The reserve’s creation is seen as a long-term commitment to ensuring the sustainable use of Libya’s land and wildlife.
Rafaa Mohammed Mraji al-Arabi, the head of the Libyan Authority for Wildlife and Hunting, issued the decision, which also includes a detailed framework for managing the reserve. The decision outlines the geographical boundaries of the area, which will be clearly defined to include a mix of southern, northern, and western regions of the country.
The new reserve will offer a safe haven for this and other species, fostering a more balanced and resilient ecosystem. The move to protect the houbara bustard is in line with international conservation efforts aimed at preserving migratory bird species and their habitats.
The management of the reserve will fall under the jurisdiction of the Libyan Authority for Wildlife and Hunting, which will be responsible for implementing necessary protection measures and coordinating with other governmental and non-governmental organizations involved in wildlife protection.
