Libya is set to designate 16 new nature reserves across the country as part of a national effort to preserve biodiversity and protect fragile ecosystems, according to the head of the Libyan Heritage Authority, Raef Al-Areibi.
Speaking to Al-Masar TV, Al-Areibi said the newly planned reserves will cover a wide range of environmental zones, including terrestrial, marine, coastal, desert, semi-arid, and wetland areas. The initiative comes in response to increasing ecological threats such as desertification, illegal hunting, and degradation of natural habitats.
Al-Areibi confirmed that the project is being carried out in cooperation with the State Property Authority, which has formally allocated the designated sites as a first step. The next phase will focus on securing and developing these areas, including the reintroduction of endangered plant and animal species.
He explained that field studies have already been completed to determine the most ecologically significant locations, ensuring that the reserves represent a diverse cross-section of Libya’s natural environments.
The creation of these protected zones aims to curb the negative impact of overgrazing, unregulated hunting, and harmful human activities, which have severely affected wildlife populations and vegetation across the country.
Al-Areibi emphasised that real action has already begun on the ground and that the project will accelerate in the coming months. He called on civil society, local communities, and environmental experts to support the initiative and contribute to the long-term preservation of Libya’s unique natural heritage.
This marks one of the largest conservation efforts undertaken in Libya in recent years, signalling a renewed commitment to environmental sustainability amid growing regional and global concerns over climate and biodiversity loss.
