Wadi El Rayan protectorate receives 6K visitors during weekend

CAIRO - December 1 2019: Wadi El Rayan nature protectorate in Faiyum Governorate received during Friday Nov. 30 about 6,170 visitors of different age groups.

This huge number of visitors due to the Environment Ministry's programs that promote the country's nature reserves in light of the ongoing renovation activities carried out in these reserves.

According to a statement released by the ministry, Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad asserted keenness of the ministry on providing all security means for visitors, in tandem with the Fayoum governor and the security chief of the central governorate.

Wadi El Rayan nature protectorate is characterized by its integrated desert environment which consists of sand dunes, natural springs, large water bodies and a different botanical life, different wild animals and various sea fossils. It is located in the middle of the Fayoum desert, about 140 Km from Cairo.

In August 2018, Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad revealed on the margins of the annual meetings of the African Caucus for the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the Ministry of Environment is preparing to offer 30 nature reserves to the right of use for 5 to 10 years.

Fouad noted that the Ministry will start the offer by nature reserves of Nabq and Wadi Degla, noting that the offer will first be presented for local companies; foreign firms will be included at a further stage.

This offer aims to develop the infrastructure of the reserves to create value add and encourage investments in this field, the minister said, adding that Egypt is considered to be one of the least countries in the world spending on garbage.

She also revealed that Egypt spends $3 per citizen monthly on garbage collection and transport, compared to $7 in other countries.

Egypt owns 30 nature reserves, covering 15 percent of its total land.

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.