information on possible sources, including coastal land features and facilities (e.g. surface
'
plumes from sewage discharges, rivers and creeks, hays, industrial installations).
Environmental policy making in Egypt
The Government of Egypt has shown keen interests and commitment in ad‘dreSsihg
coastal environmental issues. In the desire to be a role model for developing countries
and to maintaiwa po'sition of leadership in the region, Egypt has actively participated in
“regional and
international
activities.
For
example,
Egypt has ratified thirty—four
conventions relating to environmental activities, and took part in the African Minister'ial
_
Conference of the Environment, the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the
Environment,
the
Mediterranean
Mihisterial
Council
for the
Environment
and
the
Organization for Cultural and Technical Cooperation. In 1982, they established the
_
Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), whose tasks, among other things, is to
establish environmental quality standards and to formùlate the National Environmental
ProtectionPlan (Gomaa, 1997).
the Law for the Environment (Law 4/1994) was
ratified.
Through its articles and executive regulations, EEAA plays a critical role in the
preparation of the National Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) plan for the
Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea coasts, and has been instrumental in the creation
and function of the National Committee for ICZM, which comprises of sixteen members
representing a wide range of government agencies related to coastal zone, and non—
governmental organizations. When comparing to 16 countries along the Mediterranean
coastal zones,
Egypt is found to be very progressive in its approaches to coastal
management (Prieur and Ghezali, 2000). For example, while there is no legal framework
Under which all applicable laws related to coastal zone are consolidated, the national laws
on environment (Law 4/1994) and on protected zones (Law 102/1983) provide the basis
for management of the coastal areas.
laws
are
always referred“ to in the
consideration of any coastal development project, and are used as a basis for m0nitoring
of coastal environment and the environmental impact assessment.
Given the strong institutionalsupport, implementing ICZM in Egypt should be
relatively feasible. This is-found to be thetase in the Red Sea, but not so intheNile '
Delta due to multiple, and Sometimes conflicting jurisdictions with different governorates,
and the lack of coordination“ and integrati0n between various
research institutes. GiVen therise of environmental protection as a policy conSid“êra‘tion,
Egypt has relied on three basic strategies for institutionalizig this concern,“ i.e.,
establishment of a coordinating body for formulation and management of environmental
.
polides; development of a national acti0n
of
and creation of thelegal framework necessary forthè impl‘ementati0n of environmental
poliCies. The first strategy has
in the creation ’of EEAA, as the coordinating
body for environmental policy“ making in Egypt. The main tasks of the EEAA include
prioritization of environmental problems and
of a National Environmental
Protection Plan, establishment of environmental quality standards, and organization of
mass media Campaigns to promote environmental—awareness amongst the public.
*”SihCe its‘ihception,
EEAA has pàsSedthr0dgh two”'stages of organizational
reform, which resultédin the current St‘r“Ucture that is more'comprehensiVe, With
increasing
government ”agencies representing
range of specialization,
including representatives from‘non—g‘overnmental organizations (NGOS). Interestingly,
one of the
is represented by the head of the
which —
reflects the
in inV0lving private sector into
policy
makihg‘proæss.
‘
"
.
,
.
,
As_partof the ICZM planning proceSs,a National Committee for ICZM (N-CICZM)
was established, comprising of sixteen members from various ministerial governments,
49
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