Friends of Nature

Founded in 1972, by a group of Students from the American University in Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon, Friends of Nature (FON) was led by Dr. Ricardus Haber. Friends of Nature (FON) was the first environmental NGO to be established in Lebanon and was registered officially in 1984 at the Ministry of Interior having the notation 96/AD. During the 1980’s to the 2000’s, Friends of Nature (FON) has diversified their activities including nature walks, cleaning camps, lectures regarding environmental topics, participation in various exhibitions, and Eco and rural tourism projects. Friends of Nature (FON) has established the first nature reserves namely the Horsh Ehden Reserve and the Palm Island Reserve, handling all the legislative work. In addition, Friends of Nature (FON) has also established the Ministry of Environment in 1993. Throughout the end of 2005 and for several years thereafter, Friends of Nature (FON) has passed through great calamity and has lost its founding father and Secretary General Dr. Ricardus Haber. However, that didn’t stop Friends of Nature (FON) to arise from the tragedy and restructure to become a stronger NGO. As of 2014 and up to this date, Friends of Nature (FON) has executed diverse terrestrial and marine conservation projects in Lebanon.