Mapping the State of the Lebanese Coastal Zone

This article addresses the dynamics of climate and anthropogenic changes that coastal cities are facing, specifically in the east Mediterranean Basin. It explores the challenges by focusing on Lebanon’s densely urbanized coastal strip of the Greater Beirut Area (GBA). Despite Lebanon’s subscription to coastal protection laws and international protocols, instability, weak planning and its ineffective implementation, and real estate speculation have led to significant degradation of the coastline. Using a combination of spatio-temporal mapping (1985–2025) and a photographic documentation, the article identifies some implications of land reclamation, urban development, and infrastructural projects on the experience of being by the sea. Findings indicate that the land–sea interface is fragmented, natural resources are significantly depleted, the shoreline is mostly privatized by dominant development, and access to the coast is limited. The remaining natural and public spaces signal hope for recovery. Nonetheless, several initiatives by civic society, researchers, and NGOs highlight pathways for re-establishing human–nature coastal relations. Starting with the GBA, the article argues for an integrated approach in which diverse stakeholders join efforts to reinstate multispecies ecosystems and prioritize inclusive access to the sea. Lebanon’s small scale, geopolitical volatility, and context-sensitive interventions that are supported by trans-Mediterranean collaborations foreground the path to sustainable coastal futures. The GBA serves as both a cautionary tale and context of potential transformation, offering insights relevant to coastal planning across the Mediterranean Basin.