The discoveries and the explorations carried out by the GERSL contributed directly to increase awareness on the natural & cultural heritage of caves in Lebanon; most importantly, the GERSL undertook pioneering tasks in surveying and publishing important researches on the Qadisha Valley after documenting systematically nearly 100 natural and historical sites; consequently, the local authorities listed the Qadisha Valley on the National Heritage List of Lebanon  followed by a international declaration made by UNESCO in 1998 classifying the Qadisha valley along with the Cedars Forest of Bsharri on the World Heritage List (categorized as a Cultural Landscape)