On Monday, July 21, 2025, starting at 6:00 PM, at Souk El Tayeb in Mar Mikhael, Beirut, the REEF Association will launch its new campaign, “Biodiversity on the Front,” with a powerful opening event titled “Lebanon Invaded.” Through cinema, dialogue and local food, this evening will raise public awareness about the threat of invasive plants, especially the Ailanthus tree, and the environmental pressures on southern Lebanon’s ecosystems.
Across Lebanon, invasive plant species are silently reshaping ecosystems. Chief among them is the Ailanthus altissima, known as the “tree of heaven,” which spreads aggressively, suffocating native plant life and disrupting the balance of biodiversity. In response to this growing ecological challenge, the REEF Association created “Biodiversity on the Front,” a traveling awareness campaign that brings cinema and expert dialogue directly into affected communities.
The launch event, organized in partnership with Souk El Tayeb, begins with a guided tour of the biodiversity surrounding the old railway station of Mar Mikhael, conducted in collaboration with the Train Train Association. Guests will then enjoy a tasting of southern Lebanese dishes, prepared by local producers and farmers whose livelihoods are directly affected by the region's environmental and political turmoil.
At the heart of the evening is the screening of Tree of Hell, a short and evocative documentary by Raed Zeno, which investigates the Ailanthus invasion and metaphorically links it to the phosphorus burns and war scars of southern Lebanon. Following the film, a two-part panel discussion will bring together experts in urban ecology, biodiversity, invasive species, agriculture and soil health.
The first panel explores the threat of Ailanthus to Lebanon’s urban ecosystems, while the second turns toward the South, addressing the loss of biodiversity and the challenges of agriculture under occupation and environmental stress.
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