Libya to protect past treasures with huge eco project

In a country that is mostly desert, Libya wants to preserve a rare verdant region with archaeological treasures from the ravages of looting and encroaching urbanisation.

To meet that ambitious goal, the north African country has launched the world's first large-scale conservation and sustainable development project in the mountainous region of Djebal Al-Akhdhar (Green Mountain), about 1,200 kilometres (750 miles) from the capital Tripoli.

"This treasure is not just for Libyans, but for all mankind." - Seif al-Islam Kadhafi, project head