The RiverLess Project

Creation of new green areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Protection of natural ecosystems, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity

The Beirut RiverLESS research project explored how this natural riparian ecosystem was transformed into a sewage infrastructure, a no man's land, which inhibited the rich cultural practices around the site. As part of the project, the goals of the intervention are: 1. To provide fresh water in the area of Daychounieh to the city through the Roman aqueducts for irrigation and potable water supply and to transport sediments, organisms, and nutrients. 2. To treat and store water as well as control erosion, mitigate impacts of floods and storms, and filter waste through natural processes. 3. To offer food, shelter, and water to living organisms as it acts as a vital migratory path to several soaring birds. 4. To provide a natural space for recreation and cultural events for communities, such as the renowned Armenian water festival Vardavar where Armenians traditionally gathered around the river and drenched themselves in water. 5. To implement a holistic pilot project with small-scale urban interventions such as Blue-Green streets (to reduce pollution and manage floods affecting the nearby economic hub), utilising rooftops for rainwater collection and solar energy, and providing public parks for recreational activities. 6. To reduce noise and dust and to increase Carbon-dioxide absorption (1,2,3,4).

There is a trend toward turning more natural ecosystems into artificial infrastructures. With the Beirut River, it became evident that the communities living downstream of the river suffered the most from its pollution. The river developed into a no-man’s-land and became a dumping ground affected by every crisis the city has gone through. To reverse the damaged ecological state of the river and its surrounding communities, theOtherDada, Afforestt, and SUGi partnered to implement the Beirut River Afforestation Project, a two-hundred-square-mile urban forest using native vegetation. In order to better understand the condition of the existing soil before land preparation, physical and chemical soil tests were performed. The soil was tested for organic matter content, electric conductivity, and other chemical components. It was then found to be good enough to host plant growth after the addition of soil amendments, so after clearing the soil from all construction debris and waste, the team proceeded to mix it with biomass such as organic compost, and mushroom compost, barley husk, and straw. The addition of the biomass aerated the heavy soil and enriched it with organic matter, which is crucial for the saplings’ growth. In order to further assist the plants’ growth and help them establish faster in the foreign soil, the participants prepared a compost tea liquid to inoculate this soil with beneficial microbial life by brewing a mix of local carob molasses and crushed ripe seasonal fruit. Although it was recommended that only organic fruits would be used for the compost tea brew (as pesticides can hinder microbial growth), it was very difficult to procure large quantities of organic fruit in Lebanon. The team, therefore, had to rely on a mix of organic and non-organic fruit. The mix was successful nevertheless and proved to be effective as the plants became lush after being irrigated with the brew in only a few days and started showing new growth after only one week. (1,2)

• Local government/Municipality
• Non-government organisation/Civil Society
• Citizens or community groups
• Young people and children