Along the barren lands of western Beqaa’s Hermel region lies an undisturbed natural forest of Juniper trees, both the Juniperus excelsa and Juniperus foetidissima species. Perched on top of a hill, this unsung conifer does not enjoy nearly as much praise as the Lebanese Cedar does – despite it being just as glorious. It can even grow at a higher altitude of 2,800 meters and possesses a myriad of exceptional ecological attributes that makes it vital for Lebanese forests.
The Lezzab tree, as we call it in Arabic, is an enormous producer of oxygen. It improves the quality of the soil it lives in, creates the right conditions for other plants to grow, and protects the soil from erosion due to its substantial roots – preventing risks of landslides.