|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The cedar forests of Lebanon enjoy the unique distinction as the oldest
documented forests in history. The cedars were important enough in the
history of man to be traceable to the very earliest written records, that of
the Sumerians in the third millennium BC. In the ancient Sumerian story,
“The Epic of Gilgamesh”, the cedars feature prominently.
It was
the Phoenicians along the coast of present-day Lebanon and from such ancient
cities as Byblos, Tyre and Sidon who were the principal dealers in the
timber of the cedar. Indeed, the cedars made a special contribution to the
development of the Phoenician civilization by providing the timbers with
which they developed their famous sea-going merchant boats thus becoming the
first major sea-going trading nation in the world.
The Phoenicians traded the cedar, fir,
pine, juniper, and oak to Egypt, until Egypt in turn conquered Lebanon and
gained direct access to the forests. Later the Babylonians took a similar
interest in the cedars and obtained them for use in building the fabled city
of Babylon. People around the world know of the cedars of Lebanon because of
the numerous references in the Old Testament.
In the
6th Century BC, Persian control of the Phoenician ports provided the
Persians with the means of assembling a navy for use against their enemies,
the Greeks, who were already embarrassing the Persians with their mobility
in the Mediterranean as they leased and copied the Phoenician triremes.
The
expansion of the Roman Empire into Syria and Lebanon had its detrimental
effect on the cedars until the Emperor Hadrian installed the markers around
the boundary of the remaining forests and declared them as Imperial Domain.
Specimens of these markers have been preserved and held in museum
collections.
The
Ottoman Turks deforested all of the cedar growing areas within easy
transport distance of their Hijaz railway to provide fuel for their
wood-burning engines. Only the highest and most remote groves escaped
damage. In the modern day Lebanon the legendary cedar is still revered and
remains prominent in the minds of all Lebanese. The cedar is featured on the
national flag, the national airline, Government logos, the Lebanese currency
and innumerable commercial logos. It is the feature of books, poetry, post
cards, posters and art. The Cedars of Lebanon are truly an important part of
the cultural heritage of the people of Lebanon.
WHERE
CAN WE STILL FIND CEDARS IN LEBANON?
Cedar forests
probably once formed a continuous band between 1400 and 2200 meters on the
Mediterranean slopes of Mount Lebanon. Contrary to most beliefs, Lebanon
currently hosts at least twelve surviving stands, including Jabal
Qammouha, Swaysa, Wadi Jhannan, Ain Mreij, Ehden,
Bsharre, Tannourine/Hadath el Jobbe, Jabal Jaij, Ain
Zhalta, Al Barouk, Maasser Al Shouf and Jabal Niha.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
