Egypt’s 30 nature reserves to be developed

CAIRO - 27 April 2017: Egypt owns 30 nature reserves which cover 15 percent of its total land, according to Minister of Environment Khaled Fahmy. Fahmy said the ministry has developed a plan to sustainably develop these nature reserves, according to a statement from the ministry.

The plan will focus on supporting the environment and visitors, which will increase management development at the nature reserves and their resources.

The reserves are:
1. Ras Mohamed
2. Al-Zaranic
3. Al-Ahrash
4. Elbit Al-Tabea
5. Al-Ameed Al-Tabiea
6. Salouga
7. Ghazal
8. Saint Catharine
9. Ashtoum Al-Gameel
10. Karoon
11. Rayan Valley
12. Al-Alaky Valley
13. Al-Sayouty Valley
14. Wadi el Gamal
15. Petrified Forest
16. Wadi Snour Cave
17. Buckthorn
18. Abu Jalum
19. Taba
20. Al-Borlos
21. Nile Valley Islands
22. Wadi Degla
23. Siwa
24. White Desert
25. Valley of Beauty
26. Northern Islands of the Red Sea
27. Gilf Kebir
28. Aldbabih
29. Salloum
30. Bahera Oasis

Law no. 102 of 1983 protects natural resources and Egypt’s biological diversity to maintain an environmental balance. The law was reaffirmed by Law no. 4 of 1994.

The ministry’s decision to develop the reserves has brought a certain amount of criticism from the public, with one parliamentarian decrying the use of nature reserves as “public bathrooms.”