Authentic Aley will support the protection and preservation of key attractions, resulting in economic development that is intrinsically linked to the protection and preservation of the environment and cultural heritage of Aley.

Authentic Aley envisions a thriving Aley district with a strong economy built on agriculture, tourism, and Aley’s unique environment. To achieve this vision, the natural resources of Aley must be protected, and its cultural heritage must be preserved (Appendix H). 

The mission of Authentic Aley is to develop and implement a coordinated and comprehensive strategy to preserve, protect and promote the cultural heritage, natural resources and economic development of Aley District in Mt. Lebanon. 

A program for restoring cultural landscape, conserving MEA species and promoting sustainable harvesting towards reducing negative impact on biodiversity and mitigating climate change effect. 

This initiative was adopted by many international agencies, local ngos and private sector companies.

The impact of one of the applied cultivation protocols was providing the Lebanese market with more than 50% of its demands of Zaatar.

MEA cropping was introduced to pine dominated lands, which are not economically rewarding, to reduce chances of arsine as a way to change the use of the land from agriculture to urban, and to increase the owner’s income.

A program for establishing micro-reserves in different areas as a tool for conservation of endangered natural flora and degraded rich lands.

The process is based on scientific evidence obtained from scientific assessments of the degradation factors, habitat and accompanying species.

The concept of micro reserves involves establishing reserved areas, applying a complete integration plan that engages surrounding communities and general public.

An educational program that promotes floral biodiversity through actual visionary experience which combines interactive educational extra-curricular activities that allows the students to learn through hands on experience.

The program targets the general public with emphasis on youngsters, to build a solid base for a future generation that appreciates biodiversity and plays an active role in preserving it, through three themes of intervention: Biodiversity, Ecosystem and Ethnobotany.

An important wing of the program is to encourage municipalities to introduce native species into their landscape projects and public lands restoration.