Jordan Environment Watch : Libya from Politically Green to Environmentally Green

You would not think that Libya can get any greener. With an all green flag, and a political ideology that is based on the "green book" Libya has adopted the green approach in its state management at all levels. However the chance is there for a new wave of "green policy" in Libya based on green and sustainable tourism.

Many global media outlets were really excited last week with the news that Saif Al Islam Al Gaddafi, son of Libya's president Mo'amer Gaddafi has spearheaded the biggest sustainable tourism project in the world, in the -you guess- Green Mountain area along the Mediterranean Coast about 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) from the capital Tripoli.

The massive ecological and cultural project, encompassing a region nearly the size of Wales is the biggest green tourism project in the world.

In the opening festival held at Libya's ancient Greek city of Cyrene, dating back to 631 BC, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of the Green Mountain region Mr Gaddafi said "It is time to join developed countries and make a statement that we are also concerned about the environment and culture". Cannot agree more.

Standing at the foot of the monumental columns of the ancient Temple of Zeus overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, he said that the protected zone would extend for some 5,500 square kilometres (2,000 square miles) along 200 kilometres of coastline, making it the largest project of its kind."This treasure is not just for Libyans but for all mankind," he said.

The Libyan government has founded the Green Mountain Conservation and Development Authority, including engineers, archaeologists and experts on the environment and sustainable development, to steer the massive project and secure the necessary foreign investment. The vision for this rare region of Libya includes eco-tourism, conservation of animals and plant life, clean industries and renewable energy.

The regional plan is being developed by the firm of renowned British architect Norman Foster, whose global projects include Beijing Airport, the Millau Viaduct in France, and the restoration of the Reichstag in Berlin. "This is one of the most beautiful and little known landscapes on Earth," Foster said in a statement, calling it a unique challenge "to establish a sustainable blueprint for future development" in the Green Mountain region.

The project's timing is critical as the Green Mountain region was on the brink of an environmental and cultural catastrophe, said Jomaa Anag, head of the Libya's department of archaeology. Forest fires and urbanisation have destroyed vast swathes of the region's forestland, which now amounts to about 180,000 hectares (445,000 acres) compared with 500,000 hectares 20 years ago.

Part of the plan includes pushing tourist and local development further back into the Green Mountains to leave the coast untouched. Three hotels would be set back into the hills and remain unseen from the Greek ruins, organizers said. Large-scale, mass tourism popular in Libya's North African and Mediterranean neighbors would be prohibited.

This is a good use of financial resources and an innovative idea for supporting tourism to Libya in a sustainable matter. We are really in a position to celebrate Libya's new green revolution.