Cultural Heritage Protection

 

Green Southerners Organisation views cultural heritage protection as a central pillar of its mission to safeguard the identity of South Lebanon and preserve its natural and intellectual resources. The organisation considers cultural heritage to encompass traditional architecture, archaeological sites, collective memory, and historic urban landscapes that shape the social and spatial fabric of rural communities. This vision is deeply connected to the organisation’s foundational rewilding-based approach to nature conservation, which sees cultural heritage as an integral component of the ecological and human environment of the region, especially in Jabal Amel, with its rich historical and cultural depth.

Traditional Architecture Protection Project

In April 2015, the organisation launched a project dedicated to the protection and conservation of traditional cultural and architectural heritage in response to rapid urban transformations threatening the historic character of villages and towns in Jabal Amel. The project is based on developing a scientific guideline for traditional Amelite architecture to serve as a reference for municipalities and relevant authorities in restoration and rehabilitation.
 It includes documenting original architectural elements such as façades, arches, entrances, courtyards, floors, and building materials, and establishing scientific principles that prevent intrusive additions that distort the historical character. The project also encourages municipalities to adopt protective plans for historic neighborhoods and restore the continuity of the traditional urban landscape and its harmony with the natural environment.

Community Awareness and Participation

 The organisation works to raise awareness about the cultural value of traditional architecture and its connection to collective identity and memory. It encourages local community participation in conservation efforts and emphasizes that protecting cultural heritage is part of residents’ rights to maintain their spatial identity. This role is inseparable from protecting natural resources and supporting sustainable rural and coastal development.

Role During Israeli Attacks

 During repeated Israeli attacks on South Lebanon, the organisation documented damage to traditional buildings and archaeological sites resulting from direct targeting. During the most recent assault between October 2023 and 2025, the organisation continued monitoring, recording deliberate attacks on cultural sites, and preparing formal submissions to UNESCO requesting urgent intervention to safeguard sites subjected to bombing or imminent threat. These efforts placed the cultural heritage of South Lebanon within an international monitoring framework and linked its protection to the rights of local communities to preserve their architectural identity and memory of place.

Protection of Phoenician Urban Centers

 The organisation attaches special importance to protecting the Phoenician urban centers along the southern coast, particularly Sidon, Tyre, Adloun, Sarafand, and Umm al-‘Amed in Naqoura. These cities represent some of the most significant ancient coastal hubs that shaped the evolution of the Canaanite–Phoenician seaboard. They contain complex archaeological strata including ancient harbors, royal necropolises, temples, maritime installations, and accumulated urban layers that form a unique record of Mediterranean history.
 The organisation monitors threats to these sites, prepares technical and legal files to strengthen their protection, and integrates them into pathways of cultural and economic development that respect their historical value and prevent destruction or distortion.

Protection of the Fortresses of Jabal Amel

 The organisation gives particular attention to the historical fortresses of Jabal Amel, given their architectural, historical, and cultural significance and their role in shaping the region’s spatial and symbolic landscape. Doubbiyeh Castle is a prime example. It is one of the most important surviving fortresses in the south and contains a defensive architectural system including interior rooms, vaults, water cisterns, watchtowers, and defensive passages, the most notable of which is the “Slave Stairway.” Despite specialized studies conducted between 2011 and 2016, the castle continues to deteriorate, calling for a clear conservation plan based on detailed engineering and archaeological assessment, with the aim of integrating it into sustainable cultural and tourism development programs.
 This vision also includes other major fortresses such as Beaufort (Arnoun), Deir Kifa, Meiss Castle, and the Sea and Land Castles of Sidon, which collectively form key components of the historical defensive network of Jabal Amel.

Shemaa Castle represents one of the most severely damaged heritage sites during the 2023–2025 attacks. It sustained structural cracks and partial collapses due to direct bombardment and blast vibrations, threatening the loss of original architectural elements of high historical value. The organisation places this site among its highest priorities and stresses the need for specialized assessment and a national protection pathway to prevent further degradation and preserve one of the most important historical landmarks in South Lebanon.

Conclusion

Green Southerners Organisation adopts an integrated approach to cultural heritage protection that combines scientific documentation, legal safeguarding, community engagement, and international follow-up. The organisation considers heritage protection a national and intellectual responsibility essential for preserving historical continuity, strengthening community resilience, and ensuring a balanced relationship between people and their natural and cultural environments within a sustainable development framework.