SDG 14: Life Below Water

BAU activities, events, strategies and procedures to contributes SDG14.

University Relevant Events

• Call for Volunteers

The oil spill that happened mid-February 2021 has impacted Lebanon shore severely especially Tyre Beach. Unfortunately, no serious action was taken to remove the tars that are expected to cause a huge damage to turtles, swimming season and fishing! SPE Beirut Section in collaboration with its three affiliated students’ chapters (SPE BAU, SPE LAU, and SPE LU Roumieh Chapters) are organising a cleaning day of Tyre Beach this April 3rd at 10 am 2021.

That's why volunteers from all over Lebanon are needed to help during this day. All cleaning equipment will be provided.

• World Water Day 2018

On World Water Day 2018, under the theme, “Nature for Water”, RCED jointly with Gruppo di Volontariato Civile (GVC)-Italia organized a celebration event on March 30, 2018. This event was funded by UNHCR being the donor of several development projects that support the water networks and services in Bekaa region.

The event targeted a group of students from the faculty of Civil Engineering, Beirut Arab University. GVC team of both Italian and Lebanese members shared with participants the organization’s vision and information about its projects in several countries including those implemented in Lebanon.

In addition, the use of nature-based approaches for water pumping and improving water quality were presented while examples of best practices were high lightened. This was followed by a site visit to the water system projects implemented by GVC in Qoub Elias, Central Bekaa and open round table.

University/Strategy/Policy/Procedure

• Environmental Studies

Environmental Protection Act (1986) defined “Environment as the sum total of water, air and land, their interrelationship among themselves and with the human beings, other living beings and property”. One of the most important disciplines included in environmental studies is the environmental science which is the scientific study of environmental system (air, water, soil and Land) including any changes and damages that result from human interaction with the environment.

Human activities polluting the natural resources worldwide. Lebanon like other countries in the region is suffering from major pollution crisis that is affecting both its aquatic and land resources. Understanding the scientific basis of our environmental science is vital to find solutions to these problems to protect the environment and then preserving our nature.

Environmental and Anthropogenic Effects on Radiocarbon Distribution in Lebanon

This research aimed to determine the radiocarbon content in annual plants growing in rural areas distributed along villages located in the surrounding of a cement factory at Mount Lebanon province. This determination was carried out at different environmental conditions in order to study the factors affecting this content in clean zones, and to map C-14 distribution. As well as, this study also quantified the depletion of radiocarbon in polluted zones in order to assess the anthropogenic impact caused by fossil fuel combustion or Suess effect in urban and industrialized areas.

Occurrence and levels of pesticides in South Lebanon water

This study reviewed the detection of pesticides in different surface and groundwater samples collected from South Litani region in South Lebanon using an optimized and validated solid phase extraction method followed by gas chromatography coupled with massspectrometry. Organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides were mostly noted at levels below the recommended value for individualpesticide in water except pirimiphosmethyl that was recorded at 300.87 ng L−1 in groundwater sample, designated for drinking water and collected in February. DDE concentration exceeded 100 ng L−1 in both surface and groundwater in October. The reported results represent the first Lebanese statistical data illustrating the quantification of pesticides in water over a period of time. More importantly, it draws attention to the need of pesticides’ monitoring programs in the Lebanese water resources.

Decolorization of Synthetic Dyes by Bacteria

A new potent Lebanese bacterial isolate, B. licheniformis HE, was able to remove 99.8% of MB color. The finding of the phytotoxicity study manifested the detoxification of decolorized MB, which declared the possible utilization of B. licheniformis HE for the bioremediation of dye containing wastewater.

Biocontrol of Plant Pathogens

Pseudomonas sp. DHZ2 and Stenotrophomonas sp. DHZ1 were isolated from tomato rhizospheres along the Lebanese coast and tested for their inhibitory effects on Fusarium sp. and Botrytis sp. The suppressive metabolites produced belonged to the siderophore group and showed maximal activities in fungal growth bioassay at neutral and alkaline pH. These antifungal agents were also highly regulated by iron and phosphorus, which is a distinctive feature of phenazine used in controlling the plant diseases.

Keratin Degradation by Bacteria

Keratinous wastes generated from various industries are increasingly accumulating in the environment. Bacillus licheniformis L. was isolated from soil collected from a Lebanese poultry barn. Purified feather meal and keratin solution were successfully prepared from feathers. Optimization of the factors affecting keratin-degradation and keratinase production was achieved using Plackett Burman design. Determination of amino acids formed in degraded feather and partial purification of the crude enzyme were also determined.

Detection of Microbial Contamination in Some Lebanese Schools

A comparative study of indoor contamination in three private and three official schools in Aley, Lebanon was conducted. Sampling was performed in each school, from the air, desk-surfaces of classes and water taps of bathrooms, for the evaluation of microbial contamination. Official schools showed to be highly contaminated with respect to private schools. Among the three educational levels, the elementary level was the most contaminated.

Environmental Factors Affecting the Microbial Degradation of Phenol

The isolated Lebanese Candida tropicalis H was able to degrade (after optimization of the nutritional and environmental factors affecting phenol degradation process) 99.91 % of 2000 mg/l phenol within 3 days. A phytotoxicity study revealed that the biodegradation of phenol resulted in its detoxification, which indicated a possible use of phenol containing-effluents in the irrigation of plants after bioremediation process.

Marine Water Quality and Risk Assessment Along Tyre Lebanese Coast

The physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics of seawater along Tyre city coastline, Southern Lebanon, were studied in order to assess its quality and its impact on the marine ecosystem. Untreated sewage discharge into the marine environment contaminates seawater, sediment, and marine flora and fauna. High total and fecal coliforms levels were recorded indicating high microbiological contamination of seawater exceeded the international accepted limit. In addition, pollution by heavy metals is a serious ecological problem; results indicated hifh concentration of iron, copper, cadmium, manganese, zinc, chromium and lead.

• Lebanon Initiatives

The marine and coastal environment of LEBANON is important for economic, social and environmental reasons. The coast is populated; it is utilized by various industries, such as port operations, petrochemical industries, as well as for desalination.

To respond to these competing demands, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), in collaboration with its partners in the public and private sectors continuously work to improve the protection of marine resources for sustainable development. Based on international standards, MOCCAE is aiming to have by 2020 at least 10% of coastal and marine areas conserved through effective and equitable protected areas and other conservation measures.

Policies and Initiatives

• • LEBANON National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (2018-2021) was launched as a response mechanism to conserve the LEBANON sharks and rays.

  • Coastal Oil Spill Clean-up Guide (2017) aims to help decision makers field teams¨ and volunteers select methods for clean-up operations based on type and nature of beaches.