Lebanese are understandably proud of their land. In less than two hours in this strikingly small country, half the size of Vermont, you can go from the Mediterranean Sea to the cedar forests in the Shouf Biosphere Reserve or the snow-capped peaks of Mount Lebanon. Locals gush over their country’s cultural marvels, from its deep culinary traditions to the surprisingly varied topography. But if there is an abiding theme I encountered during a weeklong visit last year, it was the sense of urgency to protect them.

A lack of regulation in everything from construction to waste management and land preservation has put Lebanon’s cultural heritage at risk. Now, a generation of locals has stepped in to develop socially and environmentally minded initiatives to protect the land, traditions and skilled artisans of this Middle Eastern country with a war-torn past. Sustainable practices are gaining traction across Lebanon, taking root in the lush countryside and in the capital of Beirut, a seafront city of about 2.2 million.

The green movement is emerging as international tourism to Lebanon is on the rise. The country saw an eight percent increase in foreign tourists in the first seven months of 2019 over the same period in 2018, according to the country’s ministry of tourism. This comes at a time when leisure travelers are increasingly conscious of their impact on a destination’s local economy and environment, travel industry experts say. Now, these travelers can find a growing number of Lebanese businesses that make the same considerations.