Farm Manager

• Managed first private national reserve in Lebanon..
• Khallet Khazen was declared first private natural reserve in Lebanon according to the records of IUCN based in Gland, Switzerland..
• Hunting was strictly forbidden and the farm became a haven for all sorts of Fauna and flora. It was also declared one of the IBA (important bird area) with birdwatchers coming from all over the World during the migration season.
• The farm specialized in Horticulture. Fruit and Nut trees of all kinds & species. We were the first to plant chesnut trees in Lebanon. We were also pioneers in Hazelnut growing & Pecan plantations.
• The first to implement the most modern techniques of irrigation. From sprinkler to drip.
• We built three water dams to collect water from all the various springs & were able to collect around 5000 cubic meters of water/day.
• All these water collections helped us in conserving wildlife & at the same time using it for irrigation purposes.
• This was the way we reconciled between agricultural practice & biodiversity conservation.

1975-1982

Civil war in Lebanon broke out.

• I continued managing the farm under difficult conditions due to armed conflicts between rivals..

1982-1990

Israeli invasion and occupation.

• I evacuated my family to Switzerland. Where my children continued their education..
• Kept going & coming to Lebanon to look after the farm which was by then declared the so-called security zone occupied by the Israeli army & the sla .
• Will leave you to imagine through how much hardship I went through.1990-1998

1952 - 1958

• Elementary school prep  IC Lebanon .

1958-1959

• During the civil war, went to College Beau Soleil in Villars/Ollon Switzerland.

1960-1967

• Secondary school IC in Lebanon ( French Section )
• Baccalaureate 2^nd partie in philosophy.

1968-1970

• AUB  Faculty of arts & sciences
• Studied Economics and other credits.

1970

• Graduated with a BA in Economics.

1970-1972

• Studied and graduated  M.A.G.R. Sc. In Agricultural Economics in Reading University, UK
• Came back to Lebanon.

1997-till present

Teamwork with the Shouf cedar Society. VP & board member managing together with the management team the Shouf Cedar Reserve. One of the biggest if not the biggest in the Middle East.. With the help and guidance of it`s President, we were able to boost the Shouf Cedar Reserve to become internationally known. To visit go to: shoufcedar.org. Conservation of biodiversity, protection, promoting eco-tourism and helping the locals by selling their products on the various entrances of the reserve.

1991-till present

Board member of LARI.gov Board member of LARI ( Lebanese agricultural research institute) www.lari.gov.lb