Shuf, Lebanon (CNN) - 2,000 hectares forest of Cedars of the Lebanon are an oasis of peace for hikers, mountain bikers and ornithologists, a world away from the bustle of Beirut.
The reserve of Cedars Shuf, more large natural forest in the country, the villagers are living selling homemade jam, honey, marinated olives and wine to tourists.
The area has been declared was declared reserve of the biosphere of UNESCO in 2005.
Sustainable tourism is booming, old-growth forests are under the threat of climate change.
Nizar Hani, Director of the Chouf Cedar Reserve, said: "at the moment, we have a new challenge for the forest of Cedars of the Lebanon, which is climate change."
"The threat expected for the forest of Cedars is (that) the natural regeneration is affected, because the seeds of Cedar must be under the snow for a minimum of two months."
Eco-tourism is to raise awareness of visitors-Nizar Hani, Director of the Chouf Cedar Reserve
Hani said that it also affected the forest insects.
"At this time, the impact of climate change is under control." Our role and the role of scientists in universities in the Lebanon, is to monitor the impact of climate change on forests of Cedars.
"We hope the next year, we'll have more snow and more rain to minimize the impact," said.
Reserve strives to educate the biodiversity among its visitors and the local community, including schools and decision makers.
Hani said: "eco-tourism is to raise awareness of visitors, always we their talk about the importance of protected areas, of the importance of the forest of Cedars, the importance of biodiversity."
"We believe that if you know something very good, you can protect it." If you do not know, you can protect it. »
The reserve has 40,000 visitors last year, 65% of their Lebanese nationals and 35%. This year, is expected to reach 50,000 visitors.
"Now, we have capacity to receive all persons, before that we did not have the capacity," said Hani.
"Now, we have the infrastructure, we have professional guides, we have professional team to receive all persons, with minimal impact on nature and biodiversity.
Villagers in the forest to enjoy a sustainable tourism program to sell for 42 homemade different products, honey, jam walnut, herbs and oil of olive, to the tourists.
It was very difficult during the civil war, it was a mess-Nizar Hani
Hani said: "about 40 women benefit from this program." Increase us their incomes and they work on a seasonally to prepare all products.
"More women, we have the beekeepers." They can put their bees in the reserve and at the end of the season to promote their honey here. »
The villagers also offer a unique holiday experience, renting the rooms for tourists and preparing traditional meals for their guests.
During the civil war of the Lebanon 15 years ago, head of the militia as Walid Jumblat dug ditches around the forest and planted to protect loggers and rival militias of land-mines.
Hani said: "he planted mines in the ditches to protect this forest.".
"We are lucky, really, it was a very difficult way, it may have been a strange, but it was very difficult during the civil war, is a mess.
After all, Cedars have a bottom Lebanese history place as well as in the Centre of the flag of the country.
Soft, light wood was very popular in the ancient world, and they featured in the poem "Epic of Gilgamesh" there are nearly 3,000 years, and the Bible.