""Israel's" occupation of the south has not only had a disastrous impact on the residents, but is helping to destroy the environment and agricultural land which the local population desperately needs to survive.

"Israeli" phosphorous shells are regularly burning forests that have taken hundreds of years to take hold.

The green area in the south, once known as the garden of Lebanon, constitutes less than 3 percent of land today compared to 3.2 percent two years ago, said Naji Kodeih of the Ministry of Environment.

“This is the lowest percentage of all Lebanon,” he said.

"Most of the time, it is not possible to extinguish the fires because they involve “military zones,” said Abu Ali Sweidan, a resident of Yater, the front-line village whose tobacco and wheat crops and olive groves have lately been subject to "Israeli" shelling with phosphorous rounds. “If the "Israelis" spot anyone in the forests surrounding front-line villages, they might shoot at them,” said Mr. Sweidan, who is also a former member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine."

"Olive farmers often need the help of Unifil for protection while harvesting their crops, said Mr. Sweidan. Unifil troops, carrying the distinctive blue U.N. flags, accompany farmers to the fields, allowing them to collect their crops without coming under fire from the occupation forces."

"This cooperation extends to the peacekeepers’ often requesting that the "Israelis" cease shelling specific areas at harvest time."

"The "Israeli" occupation has also caused a mass migration from the front-line areas which has resulted in large areas of prime agricultural land being left untended."

"Given the absence of accurate statistics, Mr. Sweidan estimates that 50-60 percent of residents from front-line villages have left, which although compounded by the occupation, had begun years before with the traditional government neglect of the region. Mr. Kodeih warned that if the agricultural land were left fallow for too long it would lead to desertification, the process by which an area can permanently its agricultural capacity."

"Among the suggestions to encourage residents to remain in the south and farm their land is the establishment of an agricultural bank which would give farmers funds in the form of soft loans."

"Southerners tend to cultivate tobacco, to generate quick revenue, instead of fruits, which are more beneficial to the environment but require more time and money. “Land in the south needs much preparation to make them fertile enough for farmers to plant apple trees,” said Mr. Sweidan.

"According to Mr. Kodeih, the fact that farmers are concentrating on one type of agriculture is very damaging to the environment. “The occupation zone has similar problems,” said Mr. Sweidan, “but if you look at the "Israeli" side of the border, you see green orchards and extended water networks.”

"They have the same texture of land and weather conditions, but the difference lies in the level of government concern", he said.

"Shelling and unstable security have also affected livestock. “Shelling prevents goats, for example, from grazing freely,” said Mr. Sweidan.

"Meanwhile, the number of animals such as porcupines and wild pigs that destroy crops have increased. Hunters, who are the wild pigs’ predators, cannot reach certain places along the front line, which results in an increase in their numbers, leading to the destruction of a large number of trees and consequently the whole environment."