DOCSLIB.ORG

09-Biodiversity.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
09-Biodiversity.Pdf 9 Biodiversity Introduction duction in the current loss rate of biodiver- sity. The parties agreed on an action frame- Biodiversity is the basis of life on the earth work for evaluating the progress accom- planet, a source of human wellbeing and plished to this effect in various countries. culture. However, the loss rate in biodiver- sity is progressively increasing as a result of the human activities influencing it. Con- Strategy for the Conservation of sequently, biodiversity was one of the five Biodiversity pillars of sustainable development in the National Strategy for Biodiversity Sustainable Development Summit held in Conservation (1997-2017) Johannesburg, 2002, which are water, en- This strategy was incorporated in the State ergy, health, agriculture and biodiversity. National Plan by the Ministry of Planning This Summit recognized the Biodiversity as a basis for sustainable development of Convention adopted in the Earth Summit natural resources. held in Rio de Janeiro, 1992, as the princi- Strategy's objectives are: pal mechanism for achieving the three ob- 1. Management of natural resources on jectives: biodiversity conservation, using sound scientific bases to strike natural its elements on a sustainable basis, and eq- ecological balance and maintain the eco- uitable sharing of benefits resulting from systems to prevent their deterioration. using genetic resources. In addition to what the 7th Biodiversity Convention Parties in 2. Development of scientific and techno- Kuala Lumpur, 2004, adopted as an inter- logical capacity in areas of biodiversity national objective of achieving visible re- conservation and natural resources de- 123 Biodiversity velopment. local legislations – establishing, sup- 3. Mobilization of national effort to con- porting and modifying legislation en- serve biodiversity to ensure sustainable forcement mechanisms – supporting non viability and optimal use of its compo- governmental organizations and popular nents. institutions – mobilizing material sup- port of national and international re- 4. Participation of the civil society in bio- sources for conservation projects. diversity conservation programs. 5. Establishment of legislative basis and Principles on which strategy implemen- social-economic incentives to support tation is built: biodiversity conservation and natural 1. Biodiversity conservation is a tool for resources development sustainability. developing current and future natural resources to the interest of comprehen- 6. Benefiting from academic and techno- sive development plans. logical knowledge resulting from na- tional, regional and international inte- 2. Biodiversity is part of the natural heri- grated work to conserve biodiversity. tage and maintaining it is a national and international commitment. Elements of the National Action Plan 3. Biodiversity is an ecological and eco- include the following: nomic value being a pillar of sustainable 1. Research, studies, monitoring and development. evaluation programmes: (natural re- sources conservation economics – on 4. Biodiversity conservation is based on site "field" surveys – establishment of scientific studies and ecological monitor- ing. biological monitoring stations – quanti- tative and qualitative content of heredi- 5. Building national capacity, implement- tary heritage – occurrence of variations ing biodiversity conservation programs, on species and ecologies – inherited and launching educating and awareness knowledge of local people – competi- programs on it. tion of reference collections and classi- 6. Activating environmental legislations fying researches). and committing to international conven- 2. Applied projects programs: tions and agreements. National Museum for Natural History – Hereditary materials Bank – Raising and Third National Report on Biodiversity Reproduction stations – Data and Infor- adopted in 2005, was based on the avail- mation Network – Natural Protectorates able information and data on natural pro- Network. tectorates activities in Egypt including ex- 3. Support and Assistance projects Pro- ecutive programs, projects funded by the grams: donating countries and organizations and Manpower rehabilitation and training – the obstacles hindering the implementation education and awareness – upgrading of natural protectorates program of action performance efficiency and reforming/ adopted by the 7th Conference of Parties modifying government institutions con- in February 2004, Kuala Lumpur, Malay- cerned with conservation – completing sia. Further to the other official reports re- ceived by the Ministry of State of Environ- 124 Biodiversity mental Affairs from the concerned agen- characterized by high biological productiv- cies, i.e., Ministries of Agriculture, Irriga- ity and their fertile environment for fisher- tion, Tourism, Foreign Trade and Industry, ies and natural life especially for birds. The Foreign Affairs and Health. Also from Sci- world paid interest to wetlands which entific Research and Technology Acad- shrank in huge rates endangering their loss. emy, universities and research centers. In Therefore, countries, including Egypt con- addition to the investment activities and cluded a Convention on Wetlands Conser- their impact on the environment, the con- vation, especially Waterfowl Habitat tinuous raids on the markets of trading the known as RAMSAR Convention, 1971. endangered extinctive species such as tur- tles. Reports of the Environment and Ma- rine Police on confiscated prohibited spe- cies as well as coordination with gover- norates of highly bio-diverse areas, na- tional societies/associations and the civil society. This national report reflects the international commitments undertaken by Egypt to international and regional agree- ments related to biodiversity (CBD), wet- Picture (9-1) Waterfowls in lands protection (RAMSAR), species mi- Zaranik protectorate gration (Bonn Convention), International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and plan of ac- The National Strategy for Biodiversity tion of the Mediterranean and the plan of Conservation and National Action Plan action of both the Red Sea and Gulf of 1997-2017, gave special attention to wet- Aden (PERSGA). lands conservation in coastal boundaries offshore and onshore water. In 2005, a na- The report included the following points: tional strategy and Action plan for wet- a. Conserving biodiversity in site/location. lands conservation in Egypt was declared b. Biodiversity in dry and sub dry lands. as a supplement to conventions and strate- c. Sustainable use of biodiversity compo- gies of conserving nature in general. It is nents. intended to be a cornerstone in programs of d. World Strategy for Conserving Plant. national development plans which all gov- e. Alien & invasive species and genetic ernment institutions, public and private types. sectors as well as the civil society are in f. Ecotourism. charge of. g. Capacity building and participation of Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency is native and local communities. the government body in charge of coordi- h. Education and public awareness. nating these efforts, in addition to its ex- ecutive role in this national work. Wetlands Conservation The ecological importance of wetlands is due to their hydrological properties being the intermediate ecological system between inland earth and water. The wetlands are 125 Biodiversity community. This is in addition to upgrad- ing basic technical and environmental ca- pacities of the coastal protectorates on the Mediterranean for ecotourism, bird watch- ing sites, receiving visitors, and developing endemic plants as well as raising ecological awareness and regional coordination with Mediterranean countries with the aim of exchanging information and expertise. Picture (9-2) Developing Planta- Al-Omayed Protectorate has been studied tions at Al-Omayed Protectorate as a model for dry and sub-wetlands and a plan was made for managing this protector- The Environmental Affairs Authority dedi- ate that could be replicated in the north cated its activities to conserve wetlands in coast to enhance coordination among the coastal ecosystems of the Mediterranean activities of conventions on biodiversity, during the last five years concentrating on desertification and environmental changes. protectorates of Al Zaranik in North Sinai, Burullus in Kafr Al-Sheikh at middle Delta Conservation outside the Natural and Al-Omayed in Matrouh. A comprehen- Site/Location sive field diagnosis of these areas took Procedures of protection and conservation place and plans were drawn to manage, of endangered terrestrial and marine biome monitor and follow them up. Consequently, and their genetic resources are concen- implementing pastures management pro- trated in their original habitats and natural grams, rehabilitate those which have dete- locations of life and growth. This is the riorated and provide alternative fodders, kind of protection provided in the natural resulting in raising the level of pastures protectorates in all parts of Egypt. Protec- capacity in 2005 by 20% with an effective tion activities in these areas take place un- and aware participation of the local com- der the law No. 102 of 1983 concerning munities. They received an adequate train- natural protectorates. ing and made aware of the needed require- ments and were supported by veterinary services together with reviving and devel- oping the handicraft artisanship of women living in these communities. Al-Zaranik Strait of El-Bardawil Lake was rehabilitated to
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Down and Out: Founding Elections and Disillusionment with Democracy in Egypt and Tunisia
    Down and Out: Founding Elections and Disillusionment with Democracy in Egypt and Tunisia Sharan Grewal and Steve L. Monroe Forthcoming, Comparative Politics Which electoral losers become the most disillusioned with democracy following the first free and fair elections? Exploiting surveys before and after founding elections in post-Arab Spring Egypt and Tunisia, we find that the most disillusioned losers were those residing in areas where the losing parties were strongest. We argue that expectations matter. Losers whose parties are strong locally tend to overestimate their popularity nationally and thus become more disillusioned after the first elections. Beyond these attitudinal results, we find that these areas witnessed a greater increase in support for candidates from former autocratic regimes in subsequent elections. These findings clarify subnational variation in electoral losers’ attitudes towards democracy. They suggest that decentralization may keep otherwise disillusioned losers invested in democracy. 1 “She was in a state of shock and confusion. [...] It was one thing for the [Muslim] Brotherhood to win close to 40 percent, but how could 28 percent of her countrymen vote for ultraconservative Salafi parties? [...] She mourned not only for what she feared Egypt might become, but for a country that she could no longer recognize, a country that was no longer really hers. It raised the question: was [democracy] worth it? For liberals like [her], it apparently wasn’t.”1 How citizens respond to electoral loss is critical to the success of democratic transitions.2 Supporters of losing parties in founding elections must opt to remain within the democratic system for a nascent democracy to take root.
    [Show full text]
  • Basrah Governorate Profile
    Basrah Governorate Profile Source map: JAPU Basrah at a Glance Fast Facts Area: 19,070 km2 Capital City: Basrah Average High Temperatures: 17,7°C Average Low Temperatures: 6,8°C (January) to 41,8°C (August) (January) to 27,4°C (July) Population: 2,403,301 Population Distribution Rural-Urban: 20,1%-79,9% Updated December 2015 Geography and Climate Basrah is the most southern governorate of Iraq and borders Iran, Kuwait and Saudi-Arabia. In the south, the governorate is made up of a vast desert plain, intersected by the Shatt Al-Arab waterway which is formed by the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers at Al-Qurnah and empties into the Persian Gulf. Around Al-Qurnah and Al-Medina a number of lakes can be found, while marshland stretches from the north of the governorate into the neighboring governorates of Thi-Qar and Missan. The governorate is Iraq’s only access to the sea. Similar to the surrounding region, the governorate of Basrah has a hot and arid climate. The temperatures in summer are among the highest recorded in the world. Due to the vicinity of the Persian Gulf, humidity and rainfall are however relatively high. The governorate receives an average amount of 152mm of rainfall a year between the months of October and May. Population and Administrative Division The governorate of Basrah is subdivided into seven districts: Abu Al-Khaseeb, Al-Midaina, Al-Qurna, Al- Zubair, Basrah, Fao, and Shatt Al-Arab. The city of Basrah, the governorate’s capital, is Iraq’s third largest urban center.
    [Show full text]
  • Sulaymaniyah Governorate Profile November 2010
    Sulaymaniyah Governorate Profile November 2010 Overview Located in the north east of Iraq on the border with Iran, Sulaymaniyah combines with Erbil and Dahuk governorates to form the area administrated by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Sulaymaniyah contains the third largest share of the population, which is one of the most urbanized in Iraq. The landscape becomes increasingly mountainous towards the eastern border with Iran. Unemployment is relatively low in the governorate at 12%. However, the relatively high unemployment (27%) among women, the low proportion of women employed in wage jobs outside agriculture, allied to the relatively low percentage of jobs for women in the public sector implies that women face barriers to employment in non-agricultural sectors. Sulaymaniyah’s economy has potential advantages due to the governorate’s plentiful natural water supplies, favourable climate and peaceful security situation. Commercial flights have been operational between Sulaymaniyah and cities in the Middle East and Europe since 2005. However, poor infrastructure and bureaucratic barriers to private sector investment are hindering development. Few of Sulaymaniyah’s residents (3%) are among Iraq’s poorest, but the governorate performs badly according to many other developmental and humanitarian indicators. Education levels are generally below average: illiteracy rates among women are approaching 50% in all districts apart from Sulaymaniyah and Halabja, and are above 25% for men in Penjwin, Pshdar, Kifri and Chamchamal. 14% of Kifri and Demographics Chamchamal’s residents suffer from a chronic diseases. There are also . widespread infrastructural problems, with all districts suffering from Governorate Capital: Sulaymaniyah prolonged power cuts, and Penjwin, Said Sadik, Kardagh and Area: 17,023 sq km (3.9% of Iraq) Sharbazher experiencing poor access to the water network.
    [Show full text]
  • South Sinai Governorate
    Contents Topic Page No. Chapter 1: Preface Industrial Development in South Sinai Governorate 1 Total number of Industrial Establishments in South Sinai 2-3 Governorate distributed according to the Activity in Each City Financial and Economic indicators of the industrial activity in 4 South Sinai Governorate Chapter 2 - Abstract 5 - Information about South Sinai Governorate - Location – Area - Administrative Divisions 6 - 15 - Education 15 - Population 16 - Health 17 Chapter 3 Primary, Natural Materials and Infrastructure First: Agriculture wealth 18 Third: Animal Wealth 19 Second: Mineral wealth 20-21 Fourth: Infrastructure 21 Chapter 4 - Factors of Investment 22 - Incentives for attracting investment in South Sinai Governorate 23 - 24 References 25 Chapter 1 South Sinai Governorate Preface In the framework of the direction of the state to establish industrial zones in different governorates to achieve industrial development in the Arab Republic of Egypt, the state began to develop the governorates bordering the gulfs of Suez and aqaba, of which the investment in promising governorates such as South Sinai Governorate, on which the new industrial areas was established because of the natural resources which the governorate has (such as White Sand - Kaolin - Coal - Manganese - Copper - Sodium Chloride). The Governorate contributes in industrial activity through many Ferro Manganese - Gypsum - Ceramics and Chinese - plastic and paper industries. The number of existing facilities recorded In IDA reached 9 facilities with investment costs about 5.4 billion pounds and employs about 4604 workers with wages of about 99 million pounds divided on all activities, mainly activities of oil, its refined products and natural gas, followed by mining and quarrying, building materials, Chinese porcelain and refractories.
    [Show full text]
  • Federal Research Division Country Profile: Tajikistan, January 2007
    Library of Congress – Federal Research Division Country Profile: Tajikistan, January 2007 COUNTRY PROFILE: TAJIKISTAN January 2007 COUNTRY Formal Name: Republic of Tajikistan (Jumhurii Tojikiston). Short Form: Tajikistan. Term for Citizen(s): Tajikistani(s). Capital: Dushanbe. Other Major Cities: Istravshan, Khujand, Kulob, and Qurghonteppa. Independence: The official date of independence is September 9, 1991, the date on which Tajikistan withdrew from the Soviet Union. Public Holidays: New Year’s Day (January 1), International Women’s Day (March 8), Navruz (Persian New Year, March 20, 21, or 22), International Labor Day (May 1), Victory Day (May 9), Independence Day (September 9), Constitution Day (November 6), and National Reconciliation Day (November 9). Flag: The flag features three horizontal stripes: a wide middle white stripe with narrower red (top) and green stripes. Centered in the white stripe is a golden crown topped by seven gold, five-pointed stars. The red is taken from the flag of the Soviet Union; the green represents agriculture and the white, cotton. The crown and stars represent the Click to Enlarge Image country’s sovereignty and the friendship of nationalities. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Early History: Iranian peoples such as the Soghdians and the Bactrians are the ethnic forbears of the modern Tajiks. They have inhabited parts of Central Asia for at least 2,500 years, assimilating with Turkic and Mongol groups. Between the sixth and fourth centuries B.C., present-day Tajikistan was part of the Persian Achaemenian Empire, which was conquered by Alexander the Great in the fourth century B.C. After that conquest, Tajikistan was part of the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, a successor state to Alexander’s empire.
    [Show full text]
  • The Holy See (Including Vatican City State)
    COMMITTEE OF EXPERTS ON THE EVALUATION OF ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING MEASURES AND THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM (MONEYVAL) MONEYVAL(2012)17 Mutual Evaluation Report Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism THE HOLY SEE (INCLUDING VATICAN CITY STATE) 4 July 2012 The Holy See (including Vatican City State) is evaluated by MONEYVAL pursuant to Resolution CM/Res(2011)5 of the Committee of Ministers of 6 April 2011. This evaluation was conducted by MONEYVAL and the report was adopted as a third round mutual evaluation report at its 39 th Plenary (Strasbourg, 2-6 July 2012). © [2012] Committee of experts on the evaluation of anti-money laundering measures and the financing of terrorism (MONEYVAL). All rights reserved. Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged, save where otherwise stated. For any use for commercial purposes, no part of this publication may be translated, reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic (CD-Rom, Internet, etc) or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without prior permission in writing from the MONEYVAL Secretariat, Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law, Council of Europe (F-67075 Strasbourg or [email protected] ). 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. PREFACE AND SCOPE OF EVALUATION............................................................................................ 5 II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Egypt: National Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity Conservation
    i,_._ ' Ministry of State for the Environment Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency Department of Nature Conservation National Biodiversity Unit Egypt: National Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity Conservation January, 1998 Egypt: National Strategy and Action Plan for Biodiversity Conservation* Part 1: Introduction Part 2: Goals and Guiding Principles Part 3: Components of the National Plan of Action Part 4: The National Programmes of Action Annex: Programmes, fact sheets Illl_llIBl_l_l_lllIM MWmIllm _ WBlllllIBlllllllIBllll_llll_lllllllllllllllllIBl_l * This document incorporates the outcome of sessions of extensive discussion held at Aswan, Qena, Sohag, Assyut, EI-Minya, Beni Suef, Faiyum, Cairo, Ain Shams, Helwan, Tanta, Zagazig, Benha, Mansoura and Damietta between March and May, 1997, and a national conference held in Cairo: 26 -27 November 1997. 3 FOREWORD Concern with, and interest in, the study of wild species of plants and animals and observing their life cycles and ecological behaviour as related to natural phenomena was part of the cultural traditions of Egypt throughout its long history. In Pharaonic Egypt certain species were sacramented (e.g. the sacred ibis, sacred scarab, etc.) or protected as public property because of their economic importance (e.g. papyrus: material for state monopolized paper industry). In recent history laws protected certain species of animals, but protection of natural habitats with their ecological attributes and assemblages of plants and animals (nature reserves) remained beyond the interest of government. The United Nations, with the assistance of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) published lists of nature reserves worldwide, and Egypt was not mentioned in these lists till the late 1970s.
    [Show full text]
  • Layout Artikel Kt
    www.kunsttexte.de/ostblick 3/2019 - 1 Niels Gutschow 3reface Notes on tracing documents and tangible heritage testifying to the Germanization of 3olish territory It has never been a secret that I am the son of the ar- an undreamt-of scale and to join and materialize the chitect Konstanty Gutschow, who played a major role will of the S0 to Germanize occupied territories. in Nazi planning and architecture. He is usually listed @uring the war my father negotiated with the +irt- as one of the !rchitects of the "ührer $"ührerarchi- schaftsverwaltungshauptamt of the 00 regarding the te%t&' who in '()) acted as a %ind of deputy beside supply of bric%s by the Concentration Camp at Neu- *udolf Wolters, the head of the Task Force for the Re- engamme in Hamburg, his brother in fact signed the building of -ombed Cities $!rbeitsstab +iederaufbau contract to establish the bric% factory with the 00 e> bombenzerst/rter 0t1dte&. His offices were in Ham- officio as a high officer of the local government. 6y burg and at +riezen at the *iver 2der. ,here the offi- father was a staunch opponent of *obert Ley’s ces of the *eichsministerium 0peer had ta%en refuge *eichskommissarit für den 0ozialen +ohnungsbau in '()) in temporary shelter. He was certainly a Nazi, but absolutely loyal to !lbert 0peer, whom he admired. not because he joined the Nazi 3arty in 1937, similar !fter my father died in 1978, I started to study his to his colleagues *udolf Hillebrecht, Hans 0tosberg files. For my first interview I met Wolters in Coesfeld in and +ilhelm +ortmann, but because he was convin- 0eptember '(5C and in my last interview the son of ced that rendering service to the ,hird *eich needed Hubert *itter, Hans *itter, a member of my generati- a formal affirmation.
    [Show full text]
  • Egypt Revisited “It Was an Amazing Experience to See Such Wonderful Sites Enhanced by Our Lecturer’S Knowledge...A Fabulous Experience!”
    Limited to just 16 guests EGYPT Revisited “It was an amazing experience to see such wonderful sites enhanced by our lecturer’s knowledge...A fabulous experience!” - Barbara, Maryland Foreground, Red Pyramid at Dahshur; background, Temple of Seti I at Abydos October 19-November 3, 2019 (16 days | 16 guests) with Egyptologist Stephen Harvey optional extensions: pre-tour Siwa Oasis & Alexandria (8 days) and/or post-tour Jordan (5 days) Archaeology-focused tours for the curious to the connoisseur. Dear Traveler, You are invited to return to Egypt on a brand-new, custom-designed tour in the company of AIA lecturer/host Stephen Harvey, Egyptology guide Enass Salah, and a professional tour manager. © Ivrienen Snefru's Bent Pyramid at Dahshur Highlights are many and varied: • Gain inside access to the Red Pyramid at Dahshur, enter the burial chamber of the collapsed pyramid at Meidum, and visit two mud-brick pyramids (Illahun and Hawara) at the Fayoum Oasis. • Go behind-the-scenes at the ancient necropolis of Saqqara to see some of the new and remarkable excavations that are not open to the public, including (pending final confirmation) special access to the newly- discovered, 5th-dynasty Tomb of Wah Ti. • Make a special, private visit (permission pending) to the new Grand Egyptian Museum. • Explore the necropoli of Beni Hasan, known for its 39 rock-cut tombs © Olaf Tausch with well-preserved paintings of dancing, acrobatics, juggling, fishing, Red Pyramid at Dahshur hunting, and weaving; and Tuna el-Gebel, with huge catacombs for thousands of mummified ibises and baboons, and much more. • Visit Tell el-Amarna, which replaced Thebes (modern Luxor) as capital of Egypt under the heretic, 18th-dynasty pharaoh Akhenaton and was significant for its monotheism and distinctive artistic style.
    [Show full text]
  • HUMANITARIAN and DISPLACEMENT SITUATION in Al-Jawf GOVERNORATE, YEMEN
    HUMANITARIAN AND DISPLACEMENT SITUATION IN Al-Jawf GOVERNORATE, YEMEN OVERVIEW | 29 April 2021 Escalation in hostilities since the beginning of 2018 in Yemen’s northern province of Al-Jawf governorate has left at least 189,340 displaced Yemenis and members of hosting communities in acute need of humanitarian assistance. Most of these people are displaced from areas in Al-Hazm, Al-Khalaq, Al Ghayl, Bart Al-Anan and Khab Wa Al-Sha’af districts where fighting was more intense. According to UN-OCHA statistics, Al-Jawf is also home to some 125,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Hajjah, Hudaydah, Sa’ada and Marib governorates. Displacement movement from Marib to Al- Jawf is ongoing following the recent escalation in violence. Some 53 families displaced from Marib in beginning of April 2021 have arrived in Al-Ghayl district – Yam Mountain, most of them arriving with no belongings, citing increase in hostilities and intense air strikes as the main reason for their flight. Al-Jawf situation map with presence of IDPs and areas of armed clashes (The information on this map is provided by YARD. The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.) 1 | 3 DISPLACED POPULATION AND NEEDS Continued fighting at the borders of Al-Hazem with Marib governorate and Khab Wa Al-Sha’af district is aggravating the humanitarian needs of the displaced population. The needs are mounting while the humanitarian response remains insufficient. Most of the displaced families are residing in isolated and deserted rural locations, far away from local communities with little or no access to healthcare, education, and water and sanitation facilities.
    [Show full text]
  • Policy Notes March 2021
    THE WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY MARCH 2021 POLICY NOTES NO. 100 In the Service of Ideology: Iran’s Religious and Socioeconomic Activities in Syria Oula A. Alrifai “Syria is the 35th province and a strategic province for Iran...If the enemy attacks and aims to capture both Syria and Khuzestan our priority would be Syria. Because if we hold on to Syria, we would be able to retake Khuzestan; yet if Syria were lost, we would not be able to keep even Tehran.” — Mehdi Taeb, commander, Basij Resistance Force, 2013* Taeb, 2013 ran’s policy toward Syria is aimed at providing strategic depth for the Pictured are the Sayyeda Tehran regime. Since its inception in 1979, the regime has coopted local Zainab shrine in Damascus, Syrian Shia religious infrastructure while also building its own. Through youth scouts, and a pro-Iran I proxy actors from Lebanon and Iraq based mainly around the shrine of gathering, at which the banner Sayyeda Zainab on the outskirts of Damascus, the Iranian regime has reads, “Sayyed Commander Khamenei: You are the leader of the Arab world.” *Quoted in Ashfon Ostovar, Vanguard of the Imam: Religion, Politics, and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (2016). Khuzestan, in southwestern Iran, is the site of a decades-long separatist movement. OULA A. ALRIFAI IRAN’S RELIGIOUS AND SOCIOECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN SYRIA consolidated control over levers in various localities. against fellow Baathists in Damascus on November Beyond religious proselytization, these networks 13, 1970. At the time, Iran’s Shia clerics were in exile have provided education, healthcare, and social as Muhammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was still in control services, among other things.
    [Show full text]
  • FAYOUM OASIS BETWEEN PROBLEMS and POTENTIALS: TOWARDS ENHANCING ECOTOURISM in EGYPT Marwa A
    URBENVIRON CAIRO 2011 4th International Congress on Environmental Planning and Management Green Cities: A Path to Sustainability December 10 – 13, 2011 Cairo and El-Gouna, Egypt FAYOUM OASIS BETWEEN PROBLEMS AND POTENTIALS: TOWARDS ENHANCING ECOTOURISM IN EGYPT Marwa A. Khalifa1&Samah M. El-Khateeb2 1Assistant Professor at the Department of Planning and Urban Design, Faculty of Engineering – Ain Shams University. 1 Elsarayat St. Abbasy, Cairo – Egypt. Email: [email protected] 1 Assistant Professor at the Department of Planning and Urban Design, Faculty of Engineering – Ain Shams University. 1 Elsarayat St. Abbasy, Cairo – Egypt. Email: [email protected] Ecotourism though in comparison to other types of tourism, it is a small but rapidly growing movement.It is in the core of the tourism development strategy in Egypt and there is considerable effort to promote such type of tourism.Fayoum oasis is foreseen to be one of the major destination for ecotourism not only in Egypt but also worldwide. It isone of the most wonderful areasin Egypt, which contains much potential for ecotourism, asit is rich in natural resources and interesting history.It contains three major protected areas;QarounLake,El-RayanValley and Whale Valley protectorates. The last onewas designated as a UNISCO World Heritage Site owing to the important 40 millions year-old whale skeletons found there.Although the uniqueness of Fayoum, it does not occupy a significant position on the touristic map of Egypt. This paper is an attempt to highlight the major potentials in the Fayoum oasis as well as theproblemsand obstacles that preclude its development. It analyzesthe factors that lead to the declining of the tourism industry in the oasis andproposes a vision for developing the oasis to be one of the major destinations of ecotourism in Egypt as well as worldwide.
    [Show full text]