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