6 Biodiversity    

6-a Introduction has been in the vanguard of coun- tries signing the Convention on Biodiver- The Arab Republic of Egypt (ARE) has sity (Rio 1992), which it ratified in 1994. It paid special attention, over the past years, developed the National Biodiversity Strat- to issues of natural resources protection. It egy and action plan in 1997, with the par- has also established a system and legisla- ticipation of decision makers, representa- tion for conservation of natural heritage tives of the People’s Assembly and NGOs. under directives and support of the political Law 4 / 1994 on environment protection; leadership, emphasizing integration of de- constituted a supportive national legislation velopment sectors with environmental pro- helping to fulfill Egyptian obligations to tection and natural resource conservation the Convention on Biodiversity. for the benefit of the present generation and the generations to come. In 1983, law Like most countries, Egypt has faced many 102 of Protected Areas was issued, fol- challenges due to technological develop- lowed by the declaration of Ras Moham- ment and interlinked global ecosystems, as med, South Sinai, the first protected area in well as, revolutionary genetic engineering, Egypt. By 2003, Egypt had established 24 free trade, growing world tourism, along protected areas, extending over 10% of the with limited financial resources. Therefore, total area of Egypt, and approaching the Egypt has considered international coop- Global target. eration in nature protection as a top prior- ity, which played a pivotal role realizing intended goals.

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6-b National Policy and Strategy • Employing economics-based, scientific management of protected areas, and Nature Protection Policy supporting ecotourism in Egypt. The government of Egypt has adopted a • Implementation of relevant legislations clear policy for protecting the rare natural and international and regional agree- wealth and its unique biodiversity and to ments, in addition to raising ecological serve as the basis for achieving economic awareness. and social development, providing ecologi- • Cooperating with international organi- cal balance, and ensuring a better future for zations and donors to implement pro- our citizens. The Nature Protection Policy jects in protected areas. relies on the following principles: National Biodiversity Strategy (1997-2017)

The National Biodiversity Strategy was developed by almost 5000 Egyptian deci- sion makers, scientists and experts in coop- eration with ministries, governates and uni- versities. It was discussed in a national conference. The Strategy was later incorpo- rated in the National Plan of the Ministry Elba Protectorate of Planning as a basis for sustainable de- velopment of natural recourses in Egypt. • Conserving natural resources for Egyp- tian, both present and future genera- tions. • Conserving national biodiversity as a basis for sustainable development and achieving integration with the different sectors of the state.

Red Sea

Strategy’s Main Objectives • Management of natural resources, and the numerous other elements, should be based on scientific grounds in order to ensure continuity of the natural ecologi- Taba Protectorate cal balance and prevent deterioration of ecosystems, and protecting creatures • Establishing a representative National from loss or extinction. Protected Area Network including all • Developing Egypt’s scientific and tech- vital ecosystems, and endangered spe- nological capacity in areas of biodiver- cies. sity conservation, natural resource de- 71 Biodiversity

Milestones on the Way towards Conserving Biodiversity in Egypt • Law 102 issued in 1983 on Protected Areas. • Establishing Ras Mohammed Protected Area in 1983, the first national park in Egypt. • Developing Ras Mohammed Protected Area in 1989 in cooperation with the European Union. • Egypt signed the Convention on Biodiversity in 1992, which was ratified in 1994. • Law 4 was issued in 1994 on Environment Protection. • Developing South Sinai, and Fayoum protected areas in cooperation with donor countries in 1996. • Adopting the National Biodiversity Strategy and Related Plan of Action (1997-2017). • Presidential Decree 154 of 2001 State-Owned Land use including protected areas. • Extending the Protected Area Network over about 10% of the total area of Egypt in 2003. • Intellectual Property Law was issued and the Biological Safety Law was adopted in 2003.

velopment, and executive and adminis- and in the future, for the benefit of sus- trative capacities that attain intended tainable national development. goals, and proceeding with research and • Biodiversity is part of Egypt’s natural studies. heritage and conserving it is a national • Mobilizing national efforts to conserve an international obligation. biodiversity with all its ecological, bio- • Successful biodiversity conservation logical, and genetic elements, in order efforts rely on scientific studies and en- to ensure sustained survival and optimal vironmental monitoring of internal and use. external interactions. • Setting the plan of action aiming at in- • Building of national capacity, imple- volving civil society, individuals or mentation and sound management of NGOs - in Biodiversity Conservation. biodiversity conservation programs and • Establishing legislative basis and eco- public awareness. nomic and social incentives that support • Implementation of environmental legis- conservation of biodiversity and sus- lations and observing relevant interna- tainable development of natural re- tional conventions. sources. • Integrating national action with regional This strategy is translated in five consecu- and international action, and utilizing tive nature protection five-year plans. Cur- the bulk of scientific and technical ex- rently, the 2002-2007 plan is underway. pertise concerning conserving resources The plan includes 20 projects aiming at of biodiversity including gene re- realizing the following goals: sources. • Sound management of natural resources with view to striking a balance between Principles of Strategy Implementation development and ecosystems. • Biodiversity is ecologically and eco- • Integrating national action with regional nomically significant, and is a corner and international action for biodiversity stone of sustainable development. conservation and sustainability. • Conservation of Biodiversity is a tool for developing natural resources, now

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6-c Present and Future Protected Area Network

Mediterranean Sea

Red Sea

Current Protected Areas 1 Ras Mohamed 2 Zaranik 3 Ahrash 4 Elba and Red Sea islands 5 Al Omayed 6 Saluga & Ghazal 7 Ashtum El Gamil 8 Saint Katherine 9 Dome Hassana 10 Qaroun Lake 11 12 Petrified Forest 13 Allaqi Valley 14 Wadi Sanour Cave 15 Abu Galum 16 Nabq 17 Wadi El Asiouty 18 Taba 19 Burulus 20 Islands 21 Wadi Degla 22 Siwa 23 White Desert 24 Wadi El Gemal - Hamata

Future Protected Areas 1 El Gilf el kebir 2 Kurkur & Dungul 3 Om El Dabadib 4 El Qasr 5 El Saloum 6 El Shuwaila 7 Ras El Hekma 8 El Maghara 9 El Qusima 10 Wadi Gerafi 11 El Geleala El 12 Wadi Qena Qebleya 13 Shayeb El Banat 14 Malahet Ras Shu- 15 The Red Sea 16 Qattara Depres- qeir sion

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Major international and regional agreements that Egypt has signed • The African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (Algiers 1968). • Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (RAMSAR 1971). • Convention concerning Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (UNESCO 1972). • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES 1973). • Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution (Barcelona 1976). • Regional Convention on Protecting the Environment of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Eden (PERSGA 1982). • Protocol on Mediterranean Special Protection Zones (Barcelona 1982). • Convention on Biodiversity (Rio de Janiero1992). • Biological Safety Protocol (Cartagena 2003).

• Developing scientific, technical, mana- gerial and executive capacity for pro- 120000 tecting nature. 100000

Development and Classification of 2 80000

Protected Areas / 60000

Area Km In the light of the National Biodiversity 40000 Strategy, 24 protected areas were declared till 2004 extending over 100,000 square 20000 kilometers , representing 10% of the total 0 area of Egypt. The Network is due to cover 1983 1985 1986 1988 1989 1992 1998 1999 2002 2003 2004 Year 40 protected areas extending over 17% of the area of Egypt. Out of its firm belief that Protectorate Area Development until 2004 these protected areas are closely connected with development activities, the govern- ment has placed protected areas on the Na- 30 tional Land Utilization map issued by Presidential Decree no.154 of 2001; consis- 25 tent with other developmental activities 20 related to agriculture, industry, tourism, 15 urban development, petroleum, mining, antiquities among others. 10 Number protectorate of 5

0 1983 1985 1986 1988 1989 1992 1998 1999 2002 2003 Years

Development in Declared Protectorates

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The Current Protected Areas Fall This sector mainly protects resident and Under Four General Ecological migratory bird habitats, assists in managing Groupings of fisheries, local communities develop- ment and promotes ecotourism. Among Marine Protected Areas (5) these protected areas are: Zaranik in North

Generally, they are found on the Red Sea Sinai Governorte, Ashtum El Gamil in Port and al-Aqaba Gulf Said Governorte, Omayed in Matrouh Gov- zones. They include ernorte, Lake Qarun and the Wadi El- interconnected ma- Rayan in Fayoum Governorte, and Saluga rine and terrestrial and Ghazal Islands in Governorte, sectors based on con- in addition to 144 Nile Islands. serving coral reefs Desert Protected Areas (7) and accompanying systems, marine bi- Those are located in Sinai and the Eastern ome, mangrove and Western Deserts, they include moun- bushes, marine is- tains, plains and wadis. They protect flora lands and adjacent and fauna diversity in these regions, regu- mountain and desert late and promote safari tourism, and sup- areas. They also port local communities. They are the Al- serve as attractions Ras Mohammed Ahrash protected areas found in North Si- for tourist seeking nai Governorte and Taba and St. Katherine scuba diving and water sports in Egypt. in North Sinai Governorte, Siwa in Ma- These protected areas include: Ras Mo- trouh Governorte, White Desert in New hammed Protected area, Nabq, and Abu- Valley Governorte, Wadi Asiuti in Assiut Galum in South Sinai governate, and Elba, Governorte, and Wadi Allaqi in Aswan (the Red Sea islands) and Wadi El Gemal Governorte. in the Red Sea Governate.

Wetland Protected Areas (8)

These areas are located largely in the Mediterranean shores and the Nile River banks. They specifically include some northern lakes and coastal zones as well as the Nile islands.

Saint Catherine

Geological Protected Areas (4)

They constitute unique geological phenom- ena identified as scientifically and touristi- cally important destinations. They are: the Hassana Dome, the Petrified Forest, and Wadi Degla in Cairo Governorte, and San- Wady El-Rian nur Cave in Beni Sueif Governorte.

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Siwa

Wadi Sannour Cave 6-d Current National Efforts

Nature Protection Institutional Support

A study has been conducted on developing 17 the organizational structure of Nature Pro- 21٪ ٪ tection Sector to meet national and interna- tional obligations in the light of contempo- rary changes and globalization. Preliminary development phases started in 1996 funded 29٪ by Gulf of Aqaba Protected Areas Devel- 33٪ opment Programs in cooperation with the EU. It has become sustainable since 2000

Marine protected aeas Wetland protected areas with support of Environmental Policy Pro- desert protected areas Geological protected areas gram in cooperation with the USAID.

Classification of protectorates (10% of Egypt’s area)

83%

Training Center

7% 10% The experimental organizational structures of managing Sinai and southern zone pro- Current Protected Areas tected areas were issued to be later adopted Future Protected Areas Remaining Areas in order to match with the responsibilities and development intended in these areas. Percentage of Protected areas to Egypt’s total area Protected areas are provided with man- power reaching currently over 500 quali- fied stuff, constituting 50% of the planned task force. 76 Biodiversity

Environments Represented in Protectorates

Visitors and administrative facilities of 600 around 50% of protected areas have been completed and furnished with equipment 500 ees necessary for management. Moreover, 105 y lo rangers were trained last year in various p 400 specializations. The Conservation Sector 300 now employs 5 PhD holders and 11 MA holders. 20 other rangers have already reg- 200 N um bers of em istered to attain MA degrees in Egyptian 100 universities. The government has estab- lished the Nature Conservation Training 0 Center and the Environment Center in 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Sharm El-Sheikh in cooperation with the Years EU at the highest international standards. Development of number of employees Several training courses and workshops are in protectorates in Egypt (1994 – 2004) offered to Egyptians as well as students Wadi El Gemal-Hamata in Red Sea from other countries in the region. Governorte, bringing the total number of protected areas in Egypt up to 24. Developing Protection and Mainte- • Maintaining the five South Sinai pro- nance Techniques tected areas- Ras Mohammed, Nabq, Abu Galum, St. Katherine and Taba- • The Protected Area Network is being that were previously developed through expended in phases. The most recently the EU cooperation program. The Red declared protected areas are Siwa in Sea Environmental Policy Program fi- Matrouh Governorte, the White Desert nally received funds from the USAID in New Valley Governorte2002, and the 77 Biodiversity

to support protection of marine biome Protected Areas including Wadi Degla, and protected areas in the Red Sea. This Fayoum, Wadi El-Rayan, and Sannour cooperation will be sustained through Cave as one-day tourist destinations. In launching a the LIFE project in 2005. addition to supporting sustainability of The Italian government is also provid- Protected Areas and transferring re- ing assistance through the Siwa and sponsibilities after termination of the Wadi Rayan Protected Areas Develop- projects there. ment Projects Phase II. • Setting up a database for endemic and endangered animal and plant species,

18 and acting on classifying and specifying

16 their economic and social value in coor-

14 dination with academic and research f 12 centers, as well as participating in the

10 Global Biological Taxonomy Initiative. 8 in m illio n p (6 oen ent Governm 4 2 1994 1996 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Years

Development of Government Funding to nature Protectorates (1994 – 2004)

• The Wetland Conservation project Nabq Protectorate (MedWet) in Zaranik, and Omayed and the Medicinal Plants • A national Committee was formed pre- Development Project in St. Katherine pare a national law on biosafety; the are carried out in cooperation with GEF bill was drafted to be submitted before and UNEP. The Mangrove Conserva- the People’s Assembly. tion Project is carried out in coopera- • Developing Species and ecosystems tion with FAO. restoration programs which have been negatively affected by human activities, such as coral reefs and mangroves and Acacia. Regulating scuba diving and other water sports according to the ca- pacity of coral reef systems, and ra- tional utilization of aquaculture. • Submitting reports to international or- ganizations regarding development of conservation procedures and on biodi- El Gemal Valley versity the effects of global climate change. Implementing the Convention • The State budget for nature conserva- on International Trade in Endangered tion has been channeled since 2004 to- Species of Wild Fauna and Flora wards developing the central sector (CITES) in cooperation with police, the

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customs authority, the Ministry of Agri- Second Exhibition of Mediterranean culture, Border Guards and NGOs. Parks, and finally, the International Summit on Sustainable Development in Small-Island Developing Countries.

Ecotourism

Ecotourism is a responsible type of tourism that is well-aware of ecological sustainabil- ity, the matter which ensures repeated vis- its of tourists to enjoy the charming nature and biological riches. Out of this concept, Saint Catherine ecotourism activities were incorporated into the National Biodiversity Strategy, and • Using Information Technology and ecotourism became one of the fundamental Geographical Information Systems in principles of declaring new protected areas. monitoring and assessing the conditions

of important ecosystems and endan-

gered species to help decision makers

as well as academic researchers.

• Coordinating and cooperating at the

local level with the ministries of Agri-

culture and Land Reclamation, Tour-

ism, Local Development, Transporta-

tion, Interior, Defense, Culture, Infor-

mation, Higher Education and Aca-

demic Research and affiliated admini- White Desert

strations. Moreover, coordinating coop- The current and future protected area net- eration at the international level, and work is the cornerstone of ecotourism exchanging expertise, with UNEP and where the unique natural and cultural heri- UNDP, IUCN, UNESCO, International tage abound, the diverse flora and fauna Environmental Conventions Organisa- and geological formations, that are all well tions and donors. managed by high quality cadres with the • Taking part in many international and participation of local population. Tourism national fora, most recently, the re- investors are now genuinely convinced of cently held Johannesburg World Sum- the need to protect these areas, for they mit on Sustainable Development, the constitute capital assets for their invest- Fifth Global Conference for Parks in ments and ensure sustainable viability. Durban, the Eighth Conference of the More than a million tourists, 70% foreign- Convention of the Parties (RAMSAR, ers, visited these protected areas in 2004, Germany), the Fifth International Con- which in turn supported other surrounding ference on Bird Migration (Spain), the attractions. In the Protected Areas Training Egyptian International Conference con- Center, tourist guides are made aware of cerning Protected Areas (Sharm El- and acquainted with the scientific ways and Sheikh), the First Conference of Parties techniques of protection. to Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the 79 Biodiversity

tourist activities.

Protected areas give assistance to local communities through assigning caravans to visit valleys and mountains and provide the locals with medical and vet care and ad- minister free medicines. They also provide citizens with technical guidelines and envi- ronmental advise concerning development Elba Protectorate of endemic plants, collecting and market- ing medicinal plants; and their drying clean Since most of the protected areas are found agriculture , as well as encouraging citizens in remote areas which lack in basic infra- to undertake small-scale projects and tradi- structure or services, they turn to play a tional fishing to upgrade their production. very crucial role in providing an out- standing tourist service and taking much care of the visitors, as well as giving assis- tance to local communities. The Protected areas have modeled the typical Bedouin ecolodges, in St. Katherine and Taba pro- tected areas, using local materials compati- ble with the surrounding environment and clean energy; the private sector also has established a Bedouin ecolodge in Siwa. Currently, other designs are being made in Saint Catherine Bedouins Wadi El Gemal-Hamata protected area. All those mentioned constitute a significant Protected areas give special concern to tourist attraction as tourists are provided Bedouin women who are the real corner- the opportunity to live genuinely rustic, stone in such communities; Bedouin Bedouin life. women are given training in manual arti- facts, and support to form NGOs that Supporting Local Communities would help them promote their products. and Women Bedouin women also have a role to play in operating the Protected Areas either Protected Areas Management and Develop- through management or secretary works. ment projects open up a lot of job opportu- Women in these areas are taught first aid nities in their local areas works in terms of basics to be administered to women and direct or indirect technical, environment, or children and are provided first aid bags. services. The Egyptian State Ministry for Environmental Affairs employs resident In this respect, many successes have been Bedouins and local population in managing achieved in South Sinai, Red Sea, and Ma- and monitoring wild life, developing the trouh Governorates, which will be fur- endangered species, and managing solid thered and conveyed to other zones. waste. Moreover, the Ministry supports them to undertake environment-related

80 Biodiversity

Environmental Awareness and 6-e Future Challenges Education • Egypt, like many world countries, is Protected Areas and awareness raising heading towards economic transforma- Biodiversity Conservation programs are a tion within globalization and free for- cornerstone in achieving sustainable devel- eign trade and the definite accelerating opment. That’s why those programes var- growth of national investments and the ied according to the cultural and scientific increasing volume of trade. This will be levels, the quality of participants and bene- further reflected as the demand on natu- ficiaries of the protection. Awareness ac- ral wealth increases, necessitating strik- tivities are carried out through several ing delicate balance between conserva- mechanisms, among conferences, sympo- tion and development activities, and sia, workshops, or meetings, in addition to maximizing economic and social reve- the CDs, posters, brochures or others. The nue of natural resources. Nature Conservation Training Center in • There is still a range of protected areas Sharm El-Sheikh plays a very important that lack in adequate infrastructure, hu- role in providing environmental education man cadres and capabilities necessary to divers, safari organizers, local admini- to achieve sound management and con- stration personnel and investors, sensitizing serve their natural wealth, such as Elba, them with the value of protecting natural White Desert, Siwa, Degla and Nile resources and how far they are interrelated Islands protected areas. These protected with their future career and incomes. More- areas harbor a wealth and diversity of over, visitor reception centers have been natural and aesthetic heritage that en- established in more than 50% of the pro- able them to increase tourism added tected areas to raise awareness of the man- value and the economies of these zones. power there. • Enhancement of tourist development, as an important resource of national in- come, and further development of ur- ban communities with the increased population growth, have constituted pressuring factors on the planned pro- tected areas. • Out of the experience gained over the past twenty years, protected areas should be declared in sequence and pro- Environmental Awareness vided with human cadres and capabili- ties before their fundamental elements Collaborative action is underway with the are adversely affected. different mass media, both national and • Protected areas need to be constantly foreign, to promote Egypt’s natural and funded to ensure updating of protection cultural wealth and sensitize people with systems with advanced scientific tech- the importance of stewarding this wealth niques, utilizing biotechnology and the for the good of the generations to come. IT booms. • It is one world now. Like other coun- tries, Egypt is liable to invasive species

81 Biodiversity

that travel across countries and influ- technical resources, both internal and ence their biodiversity, as well as ge- external, to undertake its activities un- netically-engineered species and other der the international changes. organisms that negatively affect safety • Developing a balanced organizational of humans, animals and plants, in addi- structure for nature protection, within tion to the global climate change and jurisdiction of the State Ministry of En- other cosmic factors. All this necessi- vironmental Affairs, and providing spe- tates reinforcing national capacity, na- cialized manpower and adequate finan- tional and international cooperation in cial capabilities to achieve protection order to face these changes. and conservation over 15-17% of the • Due to the open skies among nations, area of Egypt, in addition to conserving mobility of transport, growth of global biodiversity in Egypt within the context tourism and increased research and of the national and international obliga- studies, it has become imperative to ex- tions. A proposal has been submitted to ert more efforts to protect intellectual the Cabinet Premier in 2003 on the eco- property rights of the national gene re- nomic management of protected areas sources and the cultural heritage that through establishing a holding company constitute strategic stocks for the gen- involving three companies for ecotour- erations to come. ism breeding of wild animals and plant- • In order to start building upon the past ing medicinal and aromatic plants. The twenty year achievements and realizing preliminary economic feasibility study the objectives of the National Biodiver- indicated that this holding company sity Strategy (up to 2017), one of the could achieve a 25% annual investment major priorities is to develop scientific return. management in protected areas espe- • Standardizing management, monitoring cially following the termination of for- and evaluation systems in the protected eign cooperation projects. areas and important ecosystems accord- • All these challenges and other internal ing to agreed specific standards and in- and external factors command consider- dicators, and continuing the Protected ing radical solutions to achieve self Areas management plans and develop- funding for Biodiversity and Protected ing all related scientific and technologi- Area management programs, as well as cal capacities, and enhancing integra- economics-based institutional develop- tion of these protected areas into the ment of the nature protection sector, national economy and public involve- and forming national board of trusties ment. for overseeing biodiversity conserva- • Developing a National Ecotourism tion. Strategy in Egypt in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism, the Egyptian 6-f Future Vision Federation of Tourist Chambers, inves- tors, and the Civil Society. Setting a • Providing institutional support to acti- well-defined plan of ecotourism activi- vate the national Biodiversity Strategy ties that identify the roles played by the though forming a Supreme Board/ different sectors and overseeing its im- Authority for overseeing the national plementation. Moreover, setting a re- program and mobilizing financial and markable map designating the hundred

82 Biodiversity

most important ecotourist destinations, • Setting and implementing ad hoc pro- in which current and future protected grams on fighting all invasive species, areas stand as pilot models. In addition issuing the Biosafety Law, and activat- to participating in media and cultural ing the Intellectual Property Act on program campaigns as well as Special- natural and cultural heritage and partici- ist Training programs. pating in development of environmental • Achieving maximum benefit from for- laws. In addition to developing capaci- eign cooperation programs, particularly ties and achieving coordination and co- natural resources management in the operation to address these challenges. Red Sea in cooperation with the • Supporting and developing all educa- USAID; Conservation of medicinal tion, awareness raising, and information plants in St. Katherine in cooperation programs and involving civil society with GEF; Rehabilitation of Mangrove and women to further reinforce protec- trees in cooperation with the FAO; tion and conservation techniques in a Achieving regional development in manner that enhance public opinion and South Sinai in cooperation with the EU; promoting their partnership. Realizing sustainable development along the coastline of Ras Mohammed Protected Area. Sustainable manage- ment of biological resources and devel- oping the Wadi Rayan, Siwa and Elba protected areas in cooperation with the Italian Government. Sustainability must be ensured for all these programs after they have reached their end of term. • Preparing academic and technical stud- ies of natural wealth and biodiversity in order to declare new protected areas according to the priorities of zones in the Egyptian Western Desert. Encour- aging cooperation with donors to de- velop these protected areas, as well as projects of establishing the Egyptian museum natural history breading cen- ters, gene banks and rehabilitation negatively affected species.

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