The war years have resulted in the widespread neglect and thus degradation of the environment in Lebanon. To bring the problems of the environment to the forefront and in order to eventually find long-term measures and policies to clarify and resolve the increasing environmental problems, the LCPS with support from the Netherlands Organizations for International Development (NOVIB), has organized a policy-oriented research in the field of the environment in Lebanon. The study was led by two environmental experts, Drs. Naji Chamieh and Jihad Issa. The research efforts were complemented by a conference which was held on the 26th of February, 1996. The conference assembled around seventy representatives of local and international non-governmental organizations, and experts in the field to discuss environmental problems and measures to solve them.

The research program produced a policy paper on the environment in Lebanon. The paper gives a brief description of the state of the environment, and addresses four interrelated environmental issues, namely, government policies and legislation, the role of the government and non-governmental institutions in developing and implementing policies, the current environmental laws and regulations, environmental management, and the financing of environmental projects. In order to contribute to a national environmental strategy, the policy paper provides policy recommendations for each section. The paper highlights the need for development and reform in the area of environmental policy and national environmental management and monitoring.