Arab Republic of Egypt UNCCD Desert Research Center Ministry of Agriculture & Land Reclamation Egyptian National Action Program To Combat Desertification June, 2005 UNCCD Egypt Office: Mail Address: 1 Mathaf El Mataria – P.O.Box: 11753 El Mataria, Cairo, Egypt Tel: (+202) 6332352 Fax: (+202) 6332352 e-mail :
[email protected] Prof. Dr. Abdel Moneim Hegazi +202 0123701410 Dr. Ahmed Abdel Ati Ahmed +202 0105146438 ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Desert Research Center (DRC) Egyptian National Action Program To Combat Desertification Editorial Board Dr. A.M.Hegazi Dr. M.Y.Afifi Dr. M.A.EL Shorbagy Dr. A.A. Elwan Dr. S. El- Demerdashe June, 2005 Contents Subject Page Introduction ………………………………………………………………….. 1 PART I 1- Physiographic Setting …………………………………………………….. 4 1.1. Location ……………………………………………………………. 4 1.2. Climate ……...………………………………………….................... 5 1.2.1. Climatic regions…………………………………….................... 5 1.2.2. Basic climatic elements …………………………….................... 5 1.2.3. Agro-ecological zones………………………………………….. 7 1.3. Water resources ……………………………………………………... 9 1.4. Soil resources ……...……………………………………………….. 11 1.5. Flora , natural vegetation and rangeland resources…………………. 14 1.6 Wildlife ……………………………………………………………... 28 1.7. Aquatic wealth ……………………………………………………... 30 1.8. Renewable energy ………………………………………………….. 30 1.8. Human resources ……………………………………………………. 32 2.2. Agriculture ……………………………………………………………… 34 2.1. Land use pattern …………………………………………………….. 34 2.2. Agriculture production ………...……………………………………. 34 2.3. Livestock, Poultry and Fishing production …………………………. 39 2.3.1. Livestock production …………………………………………… 39 2.3.2. Poultry production ……………………………………………… 40 2.3.3. Fish production………………………………………………….. 41 PART II 3. Causes, Processes and Impact of Desertification…………………………. 43 3.1. Causes of desertification ……………………………………………….. 43 Subject Page 3.2. Desertification processes ………………………………………………… 44 3.2.1. Urbanization ……………………………………………………….. 44 3.2.2. Salinization………………………………………………………….