What factors might limit a country's ability to protect its environment?

If the economy is a timber, oil, gas, coal, resources economy, then the country depends on the environment for its money. The country would continue to use its resources instead of protecting the environment.

-As for Lebanon, I am not an expert, but here is a random fact for you. The "Cedar of Lebanon" tree is actually very rare. It used to grow lusciously in Lebanon, but everyone loved that type of wood. Everyone came and cut the trees down and now very few are around today.

Politics

Tea Party Republicans or, in other countries, election of the ignorant by the even-more-ignorant.