The Tannourine Cedar Forest Nature Reserve was established by virtue of Law No. 9 on February 25, 1999, and is managed by a committee in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment.

This reserve is home to the largest and densest cedar forest in Lebanon, covering an area of 625 hectares, with cedars making up more than 80% of the total number of trees, surpassing 2.5 million in total. In addition to cedars, the forest is also home to oaks, junipers, and maples.

Thanks to its unique geography and topography, the forest has remained largely untouched by human exploitation.

The reserve was declared an "important bird area (IBA)" in 2006 and serves as an ecological and scientific hub for plant and animal biodiversity.