411
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation,
Coastal Research Library 21, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56179-0_13
Chapter 13
Egyptian Nile Delta Coastal Lagoons:
Alteration and Subsequent Restoration
Ayman A. El-Gamal
Abstract Wetlands and coastal lagoons are valuable and sensitive environments as
recognized by Ramsar Convention. Egypt has many forms of wetlands. Mariout,
Edku, Burullus and Manzala are considered as the most important lagoons and wetlands in the Egyptian Mediterranean coastal area. The Egyptian Ministry of
Environmental Affairs (MENA) updated the National Biodiversity, Strategy and
Action plan (NBSAP) for the years (2015–2030). One of the goals of this strategy
is to minimize the rate of wetlands loss by 50%. The challenges of the Egyptian
coastal lagoons were summarized to include pollution, water deterioration, lake of
management, reduction of area, aquatic plants, habitat loss, climate change, siltation of the outlets, eutrophication, awareness, illegal fish practice, over fishing and
decline of fish yield. Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) initiate monitoring program to check the water quality of the coastal lakes and its adjacent
marine area. The northern lakes have discussed to describe their morphology, environmental status & stress and their water quality according to recent measurements
of the EEAA. Many efforts have been done for environmental conservation and
socioeconomic development to the coastal lagoon such as El-Burullus Lake is
protected by the Egyptian Prime Ministerial Decree 1444/1998 and is a Ramsar
Site. Edku and Mariout Lagoons still need more efforts to environment conservation
for sustainable development. In order to improvement of coastal lagoons resilience,
periodical monitoring of water quality and pollution sources, quantities and type of
discharges from these sources became perquisite to determine its impacts of these
lakes.
Keywords Coastal wetlands • Lagoons • Nile Delta • Water quality • Environment
resilience
A.A. El-Gamal (*)
Coastal Research Institute, National Water Research Center,
15, El-Pharaana Street, El-Shallalat, 21514 Alexandria, Egypt
e-mail: ayman_elgamal@yahoo.com
© Springer International Publishing AG 2017
C.W. Finkl, C. Makowski (eds.), Coastal Wetlands: Alteration and Remediation,
Coastal Research Library 21, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-56179-0_13
Chapter 13
Egyptian Nile Delta Coastal Lagoons:
Alteration and Subsequent Restoration
Ayman A. El-Gamal
Abstract Wetlands and coastal lagoons are valuable and sensitive environments as
recognized by Ramsar Convention. Egypt has many forms of wetlands. Mariout,
Edku, Burullus and Manzala are considered as the most important lagoons and wetlands in the Egyptian Mediterranean coastal area. The Egyptian Ministry of
Environmental Affairs (MENA) updated the National Biodiversity, Strategy and
Action plan (NBSAP) for the years (2015–2030). One of the goals of this strategy
is to minimize the rate of wetlands loss by 50%. The challenges of the Egyptian
coastal lagoons were summarized to include pollution, water deterioration, lake of
management, reduction of area, aquatic plants, habitat loss, climate change, siltation of the outlets, eutrophication, awareness, illegal fish practice, over fishing and
decline of fish yield. Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) initiate monitoring program to check the water quality of the coastal lakes and its adjacent
marine area. The northern lakes have discussed to describe their morphology, environmental status & stress and their water quality according to recent measurements
of the EEAA. Many efforts have been done for environmental conservation and
socioeconomic development to the coastal lagoon such as El-Burullus Lake is
protected by the Egyptian Prime Ministerial Decree 1444/1998 and is a Ramsar
Site. Edku and Mariout Lagoons still need more efforts to environment conservation
for sustainable development. In order to improvement of coastal lagoons resilience,
periodical monitoring of water quality and pollution sources, quantities and type of
discharges from these sources became perquisite to determine its impacts of these
lakes.
Keywords Coastal wetlands • Lagoons • Nile Delta • Water quality • Environment
resilience
A.A. El-Gamal (*)
Coastal Research Institute, National Water Research Center,
15, El-Pharaana Street, El-Shallalat, 21514 Alexandria, Egypt
e-mail: ayman_elgamal@yahoo.com