Key Experts

Nizar Hani is the Minister of Agriculture in Lebanon. He holds a PhD in Ethnobotany, a Master’s degree in Agricultural Sciences, and a Diploma in Biochemistry. His doctoral research focused on an ethnobotanical survey of the Shouf Biosphere Reserve, an IUCN Green Listed Protected Area (PA). He also serves as Regional Vice Chair of the World Commission on Protected Areas.

Pedro Regato Pajares is a Spanish ecologist and international expert in forest landscape restoration, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity conservation. He was born in Madrid in 1961 and holds a Ph.D. in Mountain Forest Ecology and Management from the Autonomous University of Madrid. His academic background also includes postgraduate research in riparian ecology and a master’s degree in biological sciences.

Regato has nearly three decades of professional experience working across Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

He has served in senior technical roles with FAO, IFAD, IUCN, WWF, and the MAVA Foundation. His work focuses on sustainable rural development, ecosystem restoration, and climate-resilient land management. He has led the design and implementation of major international environmental and climate adaptation projects in multiple countries.

Regato has contributed significantly to regional Mediterranean forest and climate strategies. He has played a long-term technical role in restoration and biodiversity initiatives in Lebanon’s Shouf Biosphere Reserve.

In addition to field work, he has taught at Spanish universities and contributed to scientific research and training. He is the author or co-author of numerous publications on forest restoration, Mediterranean ecosystems, and climate adaptation. Regato is affiliated with international conservation networks, including IUCN expert commissions.

Suzan Sleiman is a Lebanese socio-economic development expert and university lecturer specializing in sustainability, protected areas, and community development. She holds a PhD in Socio-economic Development from the Lebanese University and teaches at the Lebanese University – Health department.Her work includes environmental and socio-economic assessments across Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, long-term 

Marco Pagliani Di Amato is a Spanish Italian environmental expert and senior international consultant with more than three decades of experience in natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, and rural development. He holds a degree in Agriculture from the State University of Milan, specializing in crop production and research on fertilization and productivity in fruit trees.

Since 2008, he has worked as an independent consultant supporting governments, UN agencies, and NGOs in the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of environmental and rural development programs across Africa, the Mediterranean, Asia, and Latin America.

His work includes Global Environmental Facility (GEF) initiatives, forest and landscape restoration programs, and climate-resilience strategies in countries such as Lebanon and Sao Tomé and Principe.

Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership roles within WWF’s Mediterranean Program, including Head of Program Development, Conservation Director, and Head of Education and Capacity Building, where he managed regional conservation portfolios and multinational teams.

He has worked in numerous countries and collaborated with UN agencies, governments, NGOs, and local communities to advance sustainable environmental governance and rural resilience.

His expertise combines project cycle management, strategic planning, capacity building, and partnership development with a strong commitment to sustainable landscapes and climate-resilient rural livelihoods.

With over a decade of experience in environmental and livelihood project planning and execution, Kamal Bou Assi serves as Senior Specialist in Project Management and Projects Coordination at Al-Shouf Cedar Society. 

He leads the development and implementation of more than six parallel major environmental projects , advancing nature conservation, biodiversity, sustainable agriculture, water management, and socio-economic development across the Middle East.

A recognized leader in the field, Kamal excels in coordinating cross-functional teams and engaging diverse stakeholders to deliver impactful, sustainable solutions. His expertise encompasses the preparation of protected areas and other sites management plans, the design of ecological corridors, and the implementation of habitat protection strategies that support both environmental integrity and community well-being.

Kamal has a strong track record in eco and rural tourism, integrating sustainable tourism models to foster local economic growth while safeguarding natural resources. His cross-sectoral approach ensures that environmental, agricultural, and socio-economic objectives are achieved in harmony.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Master’s degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management from Cardiff Metropolitan University. Kamal Bou Assi is committed to advancing environmental consultancy, leveraging his experience and technical expertise to deliver innovative focused outcomes.

Sawsan Bou Fakhreddine is a senior specialist in disaster risk reduction, environmental management, and sustainable development with more than a decade of professional experience across government institutions, international organizations, and civil society. She currently serves as Senior Technical Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture in Lebanon, contributing to the design and implementation of recovery plans for damaged agricultural areas and coordinating national and international response efforts.

In parallel, she serves as Director General of the Association for Forests, Development and Conservation (AFDC), where she leads climate action initiatives, wildfire management strategies, environmental education programs, and institutional development in partnership with national authorities and international donors.

Bou Fakhreddine has provided regional technical expertise through consultancy assignments in Jordan, Iraq, Algeria, and Syria, focusing on contingency planning, emergency preparedness, resilience building, and integrated forest fire management. She is a co-author of several national strategies, policy frameworks, and technical publications related to disaster risk management, environmental conservation, and land degradation neutrality.

She holds a Master of Science in Educational Administration from the Lebanese University.

Ihab Abanni is a financial management consultant with over 15 years of experience in donor-funded programs, environmental initiatives, and institutional financial governance across Lebanon and the region. As Finance Manager and Coordinator at the Shouf Biosphere Reserve, he oversees the financial management of more than 15 projects funded by leading international donors, ensuring full compliance, transparency, and strategic financial sustainability.

Specialized in donor regulations, financial reporting, budget development, risk assessment, and internal control systems, Ihab provides high-level financial consultancy services to NGOs and development programs. His expertise includes financial audits, procurement systems, eligibility compliance, financial capacity building, and the design of robust financial management tools aligned with international standards.

Holding an MBA in Project Management from Cardiff Metropolitan University and a strong academic foundation in accounting and business administration, Ihab is recognized for strengthening financial systems, safeguarding donor funds, and enhancing institutional resilience across complex, multi-stakeholder environments.

Omar Abi Ali is a sustainable tourism and protected areas consultant with over 13 years of experience at the intersection of environmental management, community engagement, and destination development. He holds a Doctorate in Public Administration, with research focused on sustainable tourism in protected areas, using the Shouf Biosphere Reserve (IUCN Green Listed) as a case study.

He specializes in eco-tourism planning and destination management, with expertise in land-use planning, product development, service quality systems, protected area access and visitor management, and eco-tourism operations.

Omar is the developer of the Falcon Certification System, a practical tool for assessing the sustainability performance of tourism service providers. He has designed and implemented sustainable tourism models and packages across multiple protected areas in different countries, adapting them to diverse environmental and socio-economic contexts.

His work combines hands-on project implementation with strategic advisory, capacity building, and partnership development, with a strong focus on resilient landscapes, climate-responsive tourism, and sustainable rural livelihoods.

He has collaborated with IUCN, UN agencies, governments, NGOs, and local communities to advance environmental governance and deliver practical, field-based solutions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and donor priorities.