414
10. The Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez has extensive littoral salt march formations
all along the coast.
11. The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba coastal lands have extensive patches of
mangroves (c. 400 ha). It is an elaborate ecosystem with rich biota.
12. The Red Sea coral reefs form long stretches parallel to the shoreline, and comprise diversities of coral species with associated biota.
13. The Red Sea islands with the Egyptian exclusive economic zone comprise coral
formation and volcanic islands.
14. The Suez Canal system includes a small Lake Temsah and a larger, further
south, Bitter Lake. The whole system connects the Red Sea and the
Mediterranean, and provides a causeway for migration of biota
Cataudella and his group (2015) divided the Mediterranean coastal area of Egypt
into three sectors, according to the coastal lagoons presence and typology. The
western sector from west of Salloum to Alexandria, the central area from Alexandria
to Port Said and the third sector from Port Said to Rafah. The second and the central
area contains the most important lagoons and wetlands: from west to east Mariout,
Edku, Burullus and Manzala as shown in Figs. 13.1 and 13.2 (Cataudella et al.
2015).
The Egyptian Mediterranean coastal area has different categories of water, which
mainly affected by Nile water and through coastal lake outlets and various drainage
effluents. These effluents continuously discharge water with a complex of varied
waste materials into the sea (Hamza 2006; El-Gamal 2016).
The Nile Delta has different kinds of water such as:
1. Fresh water as in the Nile River branches (Rosetta and Damietta).
2. Estuarine water, which is mixed between fresh and marine water.
3. Brackish water as in the northern lakes in the Nile Delta regions such as Edku,
Elburullus, Marioute and Manzala Lakes.
4. Marine Water as the water of the Nile Delta coastal area.
The Ministry of Environment of Egypt updated the National Biodiversity,
Strategy and Action plan (NBSAP) for the years (2015–2030) (MENA 2016). This
report discuss the wetlands habitats in Egypt. Strategic Goal number 2 concerning
the sustainable use of natural resources stated that by 2021 the rate of wetland loss
is reduced by 50%, water efficiency in farming is improved by 50%, and BMP in
development of inland water ecosystems are available to policy makers. The main
topics of the National Plan and programs of action are as following (MedwetCoast
2004; UNEP-MAP RAC/SPA 2009):
1. Establishment of the national council for wetlands.
2. Survey of wetlands in Egypt.
3. Selection of sites for wetland nature.
4. Research program in representative wetland sites.
5. Program of studies for formulating management plans for each of the selected
sites.
6. Program for materials for education
A.A. El-Gamal
10. The Red Sea and the Gulf of Suez has extensive littoral salt march formations
all along the coast.
11. The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba coastal lands have extensive patches of
mangroves (c. 400 ha). It is an elaborate ecosystem with rich biota.
12. The Red Sea coral reefs form long stretches parallel to the shoreline, and comprise diversities of coral species with associated biota.
13. The Red Sea islands with the Egyptian exclusive economic zone comprise coral
formation and volcanic islands.
14. The Suez Canal system includes a small Lake Temsah and a larger, further
south, Bitter Lake. The whole system connects the Red Sea and the
Mediterranean, and provides a causeway for migration of biota
Cataudella and his group (2015) divided the Mediterranean coastal area of Egypt
into three sectors, according to the coastal lagoons presence and typology. The
western sector from west of Salloum to Alexandria, the central area from Alexandria
to Port Said and the third sector from Port Said to Rafah. The second and the central
area contains the most important lagoons and wetlands: from west to east Mariout,
Edku, Burullus and Manzala as shown in Figs. 13.1 and 13.2 (Cataudella et al.
2015).
The Egyptian Mediterranean coastal area has different categories of water, which
mainly affected by Nile water and through coastal lake outlets and various drainage
effluents. These effluents continuously discharge water with a complex of varied
waste materials into the sea (Hamza 2006; El-Gamal 2016).
The Nile Delta has different kinds of water such as:
1. Fresh water as in the Nile River branches (Rosetta and Damietta).
2. Estuarine water, which is mixed between fresh and marine water.
3. Brackish water as in the northern lakes in the Nile Delta regions such as Edku,
Elburullus, Marioute and Manzala Lakes.
4. Marine Water as the water of the Nile Delta coastal area.
The Ministry of Environment of Egypt updated the National Biodiversity,
Strategy and Action plan (NBSAP) for the years (2015–2030) (MENA 2016). This
report discuss the wetlands habitats in Egypt. Strategic Goal number 2 concerning
the sustainable use of natural resources stated that by 2021 the rate of wetland loss
is reduced by 50%, water efficiency in farming is improved by 50%, and BMP in
development of inland water ecosystems are available to policy makers. The main
topics of the National Plan and programs of action are as following (MedwetCoast
2004; UNEP-MAP RAC/SPA 2009):
1. Establishment of the national council for wetlands.
2. Survey of wetlands in Egypt.
3. Selection of sites for wetland nature.
4. Research program in representative wetland sites.
5. Program of studies for formulating management plans for each of the selected
sites.
6. Program for materials for education
A.A. El-Gamal