ACS launched its Rural Development Program in 1999,

to support local communities by providing training

and marketing outlets for their products. However, the

program did not generate a lot of revenues, primarily

because it developed and expanded spontaneously over the

years. It was also hampered by the volatile political and

security situation in Lebanon, which negatively impacted

the ecotourism sector in Lebanon and the Reserve. In view

of the current situation, ACS selected ECODIT to conduct a

marketing and business plan for its rural products in order

to improve the program and increase revenues to ACS and

the local comunity.