Aiming to address decades of environmental degradation and regulatory challenges, Youth for Governance has launched a project to promote a quarrying system in Lebanon that balances economic needs with environmental protection. The initiative focuses on three main areas to address long-standing environmental challenges and modernize the regulatory framework: financial accountability, monitoring capabilities and sustainable operations.
Digital revenue collection and information system
Lebanon’s more than 1,200 quarries amassed approximately $2.4 billion in unpaid environmental damage and rehabilitation costs between 2002 and 2019. To help the Ministry collect and manage these dues, the project introduces a digital platform platform and information system. The system enables automated collection order issuance and tracking, with real-time payment monitoring. The platform includes notification systems for operators, ensuring timely communication, and live dashboards to track payments and promote compliance. It features a “talk to your data” function that allows users to query quarry data and receive instant answers, providing easier access to information. The project also supports the Justice Ministry’s Litigation Department through an AI-powered legal chatbot. By accelerating legal document analysis and drafting, the chatbot aims to reduce the burden on human resources ahead of anticipated legal appeals against the 1,200+ collection orders to be issued.
Advanced monitoring solutions
To address future illegal quarry expansion, the project has introduced a computer vision tool that uses satellite imagery to detect illicit quarry expansion and track rehabilitation progress. The system allows for remote monitoring of size, depth and extraction volumes, providing a powerful tool to enforce regulations and ensure compliance.
Sustainability initiatives
The project proposes systematic rehabilitation planning that emphasises reforestation and land restoration. The cement sector, heavily reliant on quarries, is also analyzed in the report, highlighting the need to issue licenses based on market demand, as overproduction leads to resource depletion without clear economic benefit. Recommendations included aligning the cement and quarry sectors with decarbonization goals and leveraging innovative technologies to reduce emissions.
The project’s community survey shows the complex relationship between quarrying operations and local populations. The study, focused on the seven largest quarrying sites, highlights that while economic benefits like employment and compensation can generate support for quarrying activities, residents without direct economic ties to the operations tend to oppose them, underscoring the need for balanced development policies.
Looking Forward
This initiative represents a significant step toward environmental justice in Lebanon’s quarrying sector. By combining digital innovation and sustainable practices, the Y4G project establishes a framework for responsible resource management that could serve as a model for similar reforms.
For a complete understanding of the project’s scope, methodologies, and potential impact, download the full report.