Egypt possesses 30 natural reserves on 15% of its land area: Environment Minister
File- Egypt has recorded flocks of white storks in the natural reserves of South Sinai- press photo
CAIRO – 22 May 2025: On the International Day for Biological Diversity, observed annually on May 22, Egyptian Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad stated that Egypt has 30 natural reserves covering 15 percent of its land area.
Fouad pointed out that 13 of these have been developed for ecotourism, offering activities such as diving and mountaineering.
In comments to Extra News, the minister added that Egypt has taken serious steps toward preserving biodiversity, which means maintaining the natural balance between land, sea, plants, and living organisms.
The minister said that some Egyptian reserves, such as Wadi El-Hitan and Ras Mohammed, have joined the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas.
Egypt plays a leading role in implementing the international agreement to increase the percentage of protected areas globally to 30 percent by 2030, which is consistent with Egypt's recently launched National Biodiversity Plan, Minister Fouad continued.
International Cooperation on Biosphere Protection
On May 14, 2025, Fouad, along with Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ayman Ashour and Chair of the Egyptian National Commission for UNESCO, held a meeting with Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo, Nuria Sanz, and the accompanying delegation from the organization's regional office.
The meeting discussed possible means of cooperation to support the activities of The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme of UNESCO, and aimed to strengthen the partnership between the two parties, which will contribute to the conservation of natural resources, the protection of biological and cultural diversity, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Infrastructure and Ecotourism Development
The Environment Ministry has worked to re-introduce nature reserves by developing the reserves' infrastructure, including roads, administrative buildings, and information centers, said Minister Fouad in a meeting with representatives of the Marine Environment Protection Association on April 30, 2025.
She added that 93 trained environmental supervisors have been appointed across the Red Sea and South Sinai reserves.
Efforts have also been made to promote the reserves and create investment opportunities in the ecotourism sector, permitting the private sector to invest in locations within natural reserves where activities, such as diving and mountaineering, take place, Minister Fouad stated.
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