Lebanon’s historic pines are dying, one cone at a time

By Raghed Waked

BKASSINE FOREST, Lebanon (Reuters) -In the heart of southern Lebanon, where pine trees once stood tall and abundant, a quiet crisis is unfolding. The cones are barren, the trees are drying and a forest that was a lifeline for entire communities is under siege.

Farmers in Bkassine forest have watched their pine yields dwindle for years. At first, they blamed seasonal weather changes. Then, in 2015, scientists confirmed what many feared: an invasive insect had taken hold, one that feeds on the cones that produce Lebanon’s prized pine nuts.

“It’s not just the nuts,” said Dr. Nabil Nemer, a forest health expert at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK). “This insect attacks the cones over three years. It doesn’t just reduce productivity, it wipes it out.”

In some cases