Palm Islands Nature Reserve

Located on the northwest of Tripoli; Sanani, Ramkine and Palm Island together with their surrounding sea make up the Palm Islands Nature Reserve. They are Lebanon’s only true Islands.

Several designations have been given to Palm Islands reserve due to its special characteristics: it has been designated a Mediterranean Specially Protected Area under the Barcelona Convention, an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International, as well as Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.

Palm Island, the largest of the three islands is also known as Nakhal or Rabbit Island because it used to feature a large introduced population of rabbits which have been removed later on for environmental reason: rabbits were threatening very important plants.

Palm Islands reserve is a resting place for seabirds and migratory bird species such as the endangered Dalmatian Pelican, Bar-tailed Godwit, Great Snipe and the wintering Grey Heron. It also harbors some endangered reptiles such as green sea turtle and Loggerhead turtle as well as endemic sub-species of lizard, bats and a number of sheltering fish.

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