MERSIN
Director of Lebanese Plantation Jihad al-Masri has said that cedar wood lands that were destroyed during the civil war in Lebanon were under custody of Turkish foresters following Turkish president's and Turkish prime minister's directives.
Attending an international cedar and juniper rehabilitation programme in the southern province of Mersin on Thursday, Masri told reporters that during the civil war the cedar wood lands had been destroyed.
Reminding that the tree was adopted as a symbol for Lebanese flag, Masri said, "Nowadays the cedar woods are facing extinction".
Masri expressed his appreciation with efforts of Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan following their directives to protect the wood lands.
"We thank Turkish President Abdullah Gul and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan for their orders to protect the cedar wood lands again. Those lands will be re-built with the help of Turkish foresters. These works will be an example for us," Masri said.
