Resilience to Climate Change Along the Nile in Egypt

Resilience to Climate Change along the Nile in Egypt

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE – REGIONAL OFFICE FOR WEST ASIA

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This case study comes as part of the Social, Ecological & Agricultural Resilience in the face of Climate Change (SEARCH) Egypt.

Egypt Team: Dr Amr Abdel Mageed, Galal Marzouk and Bassem al Sayed

SEARCH is a three year (2011 - 2013) regional project led by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature – Regional Office for West Asia and implemented in partnership with ten organizations (CEDARE, PHG, AWO, CEOSS,UAWC, BDRC, SPNL, MADA Association, Abdelmalik Essadi University, IUCN MED and ATED) from the five countries mentioned above and is supported by the IUCN Global Water Program in Switzerland and the Centre for Development and Innovation (CDI) - Wageningen in the Netherlands. The objective of the project is to increase social and ecological resilience in watershed ecosystems of the Mediterranean Region in the face of climate and other drivers of change. Among the results that the project aims to accomplish is joint development and application of practical tools and guidelines (i.e. the toolkit) with policy makers to contribute to regional, (sub-)national and sector strategies and plans for climate change adaptation, water resources management, poverty reduction and economic development.

This case was produced with the support and commitment of the SEARCH partners and team. They are:

• Coptic Evangelic Organization for Social Services in Egypt • Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe in Egypt

“This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility IUCN ROWA and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.”

INTRODUCTION

The Arab Republic of Egypt

Egypt is transcontinental country located in the northeastern corner of Africa and southwestern corner of Asia, bordered by Gaza Strip, Israel and the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west. It has a total land area of 1.002.000 km2and a population of 87 million.

The general climate of Egypt is dry and hot, with mild winter season and rain over the coastal areas. Data collected by the Figure 1: Map of Egypt Egyptian Meteorological farm irrigation systems which is Authority and local universities (Egypt Second National attributed low local community for the period 1961-2000 Communication under the awareness about on farm indicate that there is a general United Nations Framework irrigation practices. trend towards warming of the air Convention on Climate Change, temperature, with increases in 2010). Climate Change Impacts in the number of hazy days, misty Egypt days, turbidity of the The total fresh water budget in atmosphere, frequency of sand Egypt is estimated at about 58 The vulnerability of Egypt’s 3 storms and hot days. About billion m per year, with a total water resources to climate 97% of Egypt’s population lives annual consumption of 78 billion change is relevant to factors 3 on the Nile Valley and the Delta, m . The annual per capita share affecting Nile flows 3 an area representing about 4% of fresh water is less than 700m (hypersensitivity to Ethiopian of Egypt’s total area. This yields per year. Considering the rain, sensitivity to temperature an average population density of expected population growth, increase in equatorial lakes and 1,435 persons per km2. In this this value is estimated to Bahr El-Ghazal and uncertainty 3 respect, a plan to found several become 350m in 2040. due to significant differences in new cities in desert areas by Projected future temperature the Global Circulation Models 2017 aims at increasing the rises are likely to increase crops’ output of water flow into the populated area in Egypt to water requirements thereby Nile), rainfall (the possibility of a about 25%.The construction in decreasing water use efficiency 50% reduction of rainfall on these cities is expected to follow and increasing the agriculture Egypt’s Mediterranean coast) the green building code and this sector’s irrigation demands. and groundwater (increased can therefore be considered as Although the overall efficiency of levels and salinity due to sea part of the adaptation activities the irrigation system in Egypt is level rise and consequent sea to climate change, high due to the reuse of water, water intrusion). Different ideas there is high vulnerability of on- are being considered for inundation of 12% to 15% of the Figure 2: Ehnasia District (in pale blue) adaptation to the reduction of most fertile arable land in the within BeniSuef Governorate water resources or the increase Nile Delta as a result of sea level of Nile flows. These primarily rise and salty water intrusion. include: keeping the water level Projected future temperature in Lake Nasser low, increasing rises are likely to increase crop water storage capacity, water requirements thereby improving irrigation and draining directly decreasing crop water systems, changing cropping use efficiency and increase patterns and farm irrigation irrigation demands of the systems, reducing surface water agriculture sector. Crop-water evaporation by a redesign of requirements of the important canal cross section and strategic crops in Egypt are developing new water resources expected to increase by a range through Upper Nile projects, rain of 6-16% by 2100. harvesting, desalination, wastewater recycling and For livestock production, increased use of deep temperature increases induce harmful stress impacts on groundwater reservoirs. Another Ehnasia District in Beni Suef animals’ productivity. New idea wasusing a number of soft Governorate , a total area of animal diseases emerged in interventions such as increasing 1007.55km2 and is inhabited by Egypt and have negative public awareness about the About 336,000 of whom 80% impacts on livestock need for rational use of water, work in agriculture. Cotton, production. These include the enhancing precipitation wheat, onion and tomato are the blue tongue disease and rift measurement networks in most significant crops in this valley fever. Both are attributed upstream countries of the Nile district. It depends mainly on to some observed changes in Basin, encouraging data two water sources: the Youssef climate. The availability of exchange between Nile Basin and Ibrahimia sub canals. The fodder is decreasing due to countries, and developing biggest sub canal is El Sultani climate change impacts on Circulation Models for the canal. The total area of the crops productivity and higher prediction of the impact of cultivated land is about 44.8 competition for land and water climate change on the local and thousand feddan in addition to resources between fodder and regional water resources. the reclaimed area. These areas cereal crops. are irrigated by canals For the agriculture sector, Beni Suef and Minia originating directly from Youssef climate change studies predict a Governorates and Ibrahimia canals using the reduction in the productivity of triple shifts system. Reuse of two major crops in Egypt; wheat Beni Suef and Minia drainage water is practiced to and maize, by 15% and 19% Governorates are located in supplement irrigation water in respectively by 2050. Losses in Middle/Upper Egypt, and lands at the tail ends of the crop productivity are mainly populated (1\1\2013) by 2,687 canals. attributed to the projected million and 4,864 million temperature increase, crop- respectively. Ehnasia District faces significant water stress, pests and challenges in terms of irrigation diseases, as well as the needs including limited water resources, increasing water RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE adaptation strategy for the demand that exceeds the water sector addressing the barriers to supply in summer, rapidly There are positive efforts for implementing adaptation growing population and negative scientific research, however measures. These barriers practices of some upstream efforts have been made on include lack of information farmers that reduce the water climate change mitigation and sheering, poor adaptive availability at the tail ends. adaptation in the agriculture capacity, gap between research sector in Egypt but never and implementation, lack of enough. Changing sowing implementation policies and lack dates and management of financial support. practices are among the important adaptation measures Being highly dependent on oriented to mitigate the impacts agricultural production, some of climate change. Changing areas in both Minia and Beni crops to those tolerant to heat, Suef governorates are currently salinity and pests and changing combating agricultural crop patterns are the most production losses from climatic promising adaptation measures changes and seasonal change. at the national level. Moreover, With a high population growth using different combinations of rate and increases in different levels of improved temperature, popular crops are surface irrigation system no longer capable of coping efficiencies and applying deficit with climatic changes and other irrigation are considered as drivers of change. means of increasing the Figure 2: Samallout District Other impacts that include the capacity of surface irrigation emergence of some livestock system in old land in order to diseases have put burdens on Samallout District in Minia overcome the negative impacts livestock owners and therefore Governorate, which is populated of climate change. significantly impacted livestock by About 460,000 persons, is productivity. characterized by its first class However, further studies on the impacts, vulnerability and agricultural nature and is famous for the cultivation of the adaptation to climate change Figure 2: Changes to annual mean traditional crops of grain, grapes are still needed in the agriculture temperature in Egypt (Source: Egyptian and cotton. Samallout's farmers sector in order to develop an Meteorological Authority) are highly qualified due to their accumulated experience. Although Samallout has many grapes farms, the farmers are facing problems in marketing it, being a local production. Several development organizations have targeted this district and its people more than other districts in Minia. important role in selecting, the issues of climate change in a For these reasons, SEARCH screening, testing and transparent manner. Replication (Social, Ecological &Agricultural contextualizing feasible tools for of the methodology in other Resilience in the face of Climate climate change and vulnerability regions was also considered Change) project has been as well as other relevant significant. In aspects related to implemented in Minia and Beni planning tools (decision support policy, they emphasized the Suef governorates especially tools, participatory planning need for introducing policies that both are considered as the cycles, water audits, etc.). The coherence in relation to water, poorest areas in Egypt and fall team made important inputs in agriculture and climate change under the lowest development the joint planning processes and as well as an improved levels as per the UN Human the technical support to pilot governance structure and Development Report. The actions. The team also led activating the role of the joint Centre for Environment and community mobilization, ministerial committees. National Development for the Arab technical knowledge, facilitating stakeholders acknowledged that Region and Europe (CEDARE) communication between the national strategies and plans and the Coptic Evangelical relevant stakeholders and the were designed, so attention Organization for Social Services involvement of the local should currently be directed to (CEOSS) have partnered to community in the project. In lower levels (of governorates, implement the SEARCH project addition, the team contributed districts and villages) and in Egypt. to empowering and raising the establishing linkages horizontally Awareness of the locals on and vertically. Three communities of climate change impacts and Masharka, Mayana and adaptation procedures. At the Local Level, participating Bahsmon in Ehnasia District stakeholders in Masharqa village (Beni Suef)were chosen for the Stakeholders Dialogue and (as an example) agreed on: Concerted Action This approach project implementation based 1. Improving water on diversity in the type of soil had a central position in activities taking place on the management at the farm and communities’ having active level and mesqa. leaders with an ability for different levels in the project area. 2. Maximizing the use of the dialogue and understanding of irrigation improvement the nature of the problems and At the National Level, project in the village. openness to new ideas. Based policymakers and high-level 3. Enhancing farmers’ on the same criteria another representatives of relevant awareness of the three communities in Samallout stakeholders were brought importance of maintaining District (Minia) were selected: together to discuss necessary the irrigation and drainage Shusha, El-Tybee and Koum El actions. They agreed on the canals. Raheb. importance of community 4. Reducing the rising participation and capacity subsurface water. building to meet challenges 5. Providing irrigation water as APPROACHES & METHODOLOGY imposed by climate change. needed. Participatory Approaches They also agreed on the 6. Enhancing agricultural necessity to make data and extension. The SEARCH team led the joint information available for all 7. Improving tomato participatory action planning concerned stakeholders, civil marketing. processes and played an society and those interested in 8. Establishing a training especially while blossoming as it drainage water , introducing center in the village to causes the fall of flowers. In new varieties of crops tolerant to support women farmers, as addition to negative effects on severe climate events such as many ladies work in human health, wind has been heat, frost and wind and agriculture. undermining the productivity of diversification of income sources 9. Developing farming animals and poultry. Increased through adopting more than one methods that are adaptive temperature has a multifaceted economic activity by the locals to climate change. negative impact in Ehnasia like agriculture, poultry and 10. Increasing awareness on leading to vulnerability and livestock production. Diversity climate change impacts requiring resilience actions. In strategy also included activities and resilience to these addition to the manifestations like promoting integrated farms impacts. related to water and agriculture, in the reclamation areas (fish 11. Promoting agricultural the heat effects extend to animal breeding in ponds after having automation in the village. productivity (in mating and used the water rich in bio grazing). Seeking to mitigate the substance in cultivating alfalfa At the District Level, a vision effects of heat, owners are and raising livestock feeding on was developed based on forced to increase their alfalfa). problem analysis and expenditure on energy which in stakeholders' analysis: “Seeking turn reduces profitability. Self-Organization and a clean environment and an Governance: This was based on increased agricultural Resilience Strategizing building capacity at the productivity in order to improve governorate, district and village the livelihoods of farmers in A resilience assessment showed levels, empowering CSOs and Ehnasia”. With the participation ‘increased temperature’ and water users associations to of district-level stakeholders, the ‘drought’ as the most climatic assume more responsibility in different factors of vulnerability stress factors. Meetings at environmental issues and were assessed. Drought was different levels were held in promoting coordination between identified to cause low order to develop resilience stakeholders and the agricultural productivity, strategies in the two areas of the communities and between the increase in costs of production project. The strategies different sectors to achieve elements and higher rates of soil developed revolved around four policies coherence. salinity in some area due to components: Sustainable Infrastructure and irrigation from agricultural Learning: Focusing on the drainages. Frost, on the other Technology: Emphasis here is media, building capacities, on low cost technological hand, caused damages to crops raising awareness and Facilitate in cultivated lands located in applications for water saving, access to climate change renewable energy, sustainable desert areas and led to the extra information. Also highlighted costs for protecting from frost. It agriculture and food security. was promoting and enhancing There is a particular need for also affected animal productivity research in climate change and causing high rates of poultry technological solutions for soil dissemination of best adaptation improvement and protection mortality. Wind blowing from practices. the desert during spring time, against desertification, carrying dust and sand and Diversity: This included maintaining the irrigation and characterized by high diversification of resources drainage network and water temperature, affects some crops through -for example- reusing pollution abatement. In addition, the government needs to be encouraged to include green locals (males and females) in References infrastructure in its plans while each village have received a the private sector should be climate resilience education. Egyptian Environmental Affairs urged to invest more in Agency, Egypt (May 2010). sustainable infrastructure and Optimizing Water Usage Egypt Second National technology. Communication under the Stakeholders of SEARCH United Nations Framework project acknowledged that a INSTITUTIONALIZATION & Convention on Climate Change. significant component of DISSEMINATION Cairo, Egypt. resilience efforts in Ehnasia was Two pilot projects were reducing water consumption Cover Photo: implemented as part of through adoption of flexible © IUCN ROWA advocating in collaboration with practices. Upon that, a pilot agricultural extension in Director project sought to promote the Document Figures (as they of Agriculture in Beni Suef, the cultivation of moringa tree which appear in order): institutionalization and is considered useful in mitigating dissemination of SEARCH’s climate change impacts due to © CEDARE approach to building resilience its limited need for irrigation. © CEDARE to climate change. Moringa canbe cultivated on the sides of water canals, gardens, © CEDARE Establishing Farmer Field houses and roads. All parts of Schools the moringa can be useful © CEDARE including seed, green leaves, It was a pilot project designed dry leaves, roots, seed oils and for Masharka and Mayana oil wastes. The pilot project villages in order to raise bought 500 moringa seedlings awareness about adaptation to and one kilo seeds. Some were climate change with respect to planted; others were sold to agricultural production (irrigation, farmers at a low price to have plants, animal production, them planted in their lands. combating diseases, recycling of wastes and rural women). In general, throughout the Specialists from the Agricultural project cycle there was special Extension in Directorate of emphasis on documentation of Agriculture in Beni Suef helped methodologies and learning in establishing linkage between processes, as well as, exchange the recommendations of field of valuable information and specialists and farmers’ lessons learnt at all levels. concerns with regard to Capacity building and maximizing agricultural introducing coherence to production, plants and animals policies related to water, productivity, in order to agriculture and climate change overcome the expected were also recommended as shortages due to climate means to sustain, upscale and change. Over a period of four institutionalize the outputs of months, a total number of 160 SEARCH.