STATE OF ENVIRONMENT: EGYPT

Ahmad K. HegazyProfessor of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science,

Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt

For Presentation Before

GEO South-Eastern Europe and Eastern Mediterranean Symposium

On

Earth Observation Services for Monitoring the Environment and Protecting the General Public

8-10 June 2009Athens, Greece

BackgroundSocioeconomic development in Egypt

associated with overpopulation and limited natural resources puts pressures on the environment.

This status environmental report covers the nine societal benefit areas of GEOSS: ecosystems, weather, climate, disasters, health, energy, water, biodiversity and agriculture.

(1) EcosystemsThe major ecosystems of Egypt occur in five main regions:

(1) Eastern Desert(2) Western Desert (3) Sinai(4) Nile land and the

Delta(5) Coastal and marine

habitatsBiogeographical regions of Egypt

Ecosystem services Ecosystems of Egypt contribute significantly

through the provision of ecosystem services. These have been divided into four categories:

(1) Provisioning (e.g. food, fiber, fuel, water),(2) Regulating (e.g. water quality, flood and erosion

control,),(3) Cultural (e.g. recreation, aesthetic and spiritual

values), and(4) Supporting services (e.g. carbon sequestration,

water, nutrient cycling).

Due to large-scale developmental activities, all of Egypt’s ecosystems have been significantly changed in the last 50 years, where their capacity to provide services declined significantly.

The climatic provinces in

Egypt

Mild (23-28°C)Hot (27-30°C)Hot (28-33°C)Very hot (30-35°C)Hot (27-30°C)Hot (25-30°C)

Mild (15-18°C)Mild (17-22°C)Mild (18-22°C)Mild (10-22°C)Mild (15-22°C)Cool (8-14°C)

Winter (220-100 mm)Winter (50-30 mm)Spring (50-10 mm)Winter (5-0 mm)Winter (20-10 mm)Winter (50-10 mm)

I. Semi-aridII.1. AridII.2. AridIII.1. HyperaridIII.2. HyperaridIII.3. Hyperarid

SummerWinter

Mean temperatureRainfall(Time & amount/year)

Province

(2) Weather

Weather in Egypt is characteristic of the arid regions with major fluctuations in the inland and coastal regions.Three rainfall belts are distinguished in Egypt:

the Mediterranean coastal belt, the middle and Upper Egypt. The relative humidity is affected mainly by the

proximity to the Mediterranean and the Red Sea.Wind circulation is controlled by a permanent

high pressure belt over the Sahara high pressure system.

(3) Climate

Coastal and inland ecosystems in Egypt are vulnerable to climate change through:

Loss of most grazing lands and biodiversityShifting sand dunes in the western desertLoss of most coastal ecosystemsThere may be an increase in less desirable or

invasive species.Spatial and temporal change in crop distribution

2005

2100

2075

2050

2025

Seasonal temperature distribution in Egypt in the year 2005 and Seasonal temperature distribution in Egypt in the year 2005 and the the projected years 2025, 2075 and 2100 projected years 2025, 2075 and 2100 (after Hegazy (after Hegazy et alet al. 2008). 2008)

Winter Spring Summer Autumn

“Business-as-usual scenario”

Range of projected annual changes:

2025 = 0.5 – 1.0

2050 = 1.5 – 2.0

2075 = 2.0 – 3.0

2100 = 2.5 – 4.5 oC

Projected temporal and spatial distribution of Projected temporal and spatial distribution of Wheat cv. Gemiza 9Wheat cv. Gemiza 9 during during the years 2005, 2025, 2050, 2075 and 2100the years 2005, 2025, 2050, 2075 and 2100

2005 2025 2050

2075 2100

Contraction in arable land area and Shift in cultivation time

(4) DisastersNatural disasters comprise drought, torrential

floods, river and coastal floods, draining of wetlands, sand windstorms, earthquakes and infestations which may expose people, ecosystems and biota to threats.

There were more than 300 local earthquakes for the period 1803-1995; however, about 83 events were reported to have caused damage of variable degrees.

Disasters can directly or indirectly related to anthropogenic factors such as overpopulation, uncontrolled urbanization, intensive agricultural practices and land use patterns, and oil, chemical and toxic spills.

Because of the limited natural resources of Egypt, the country is vulnerable to disasters and has limited capacity to prevent or cope with the expected disaster’s impacts.

(5) Population & Health(A) Population

With a population of 74 million in 2005, Egypt has the 16th largest population in the world.

Egypt's population increases every year by about 1.5 million people, and projections indicated that the population will reach 95.6 million by 2026

(B) Health

Overpopulation and the poor quality of the environment are directly responsible for 25 percent of preventable diseases.

The country has more than 4,000 primary healthcare centers and facilities with appropriate infrastructure.

Health spending totaled about 4% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2000, equivalent to US$45 per capita.

Public health financing is provided mainly from general taxation, private financing, social insurance, funding raised by firms, and syndicates.

Government health insurance covers around 50% of the population.The increasing incidence of non-communicable

diseases (NCDs), e.g., cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and renal, genetic and respiratory diseases and the scourge of vector-borne diseases – places a huge burden on healthcare resources.The Egyptian government launched the mobile

clinics project in 1997 in an effort to strengthen the basic health services to populations living in remote rural areas.

(6) EnergyEnergy Resources (2004/2005):

Crude oil (50.4%)Natural gas (43.6%)Hydropower (4.75%)Coal resources (1.25%)New and renewable energy resources (0.2%)

Energy consumptionThe transport sector is the major oil consumer

(35.5%), followed by the industrial sector (27.8%), electricity (18.7%), residential and commercial (14.2%), and the agriculture sector (0.4%).

The electricity sector is considered the major consumer of natural gas (61.9%), followed by industry (29.3%), the petroleum sector (6.8%) and the residential sector (about 2%).

Egypt will become a net oil importer during the near future which would increase the share of NG in the energy supply local matrix.

Energy sector faces some challenges due to subsidized conventional energy prices and the absence of well defined legislation supporting renewable energy.

(7) Water The total annual use of fresh water is 80.5 Billion m3 per year,

and by the year 2017 Egypt will need about 100 Billion m3 per year.

About 95% of all fresh water are derived from the Nile River (Egypt’s share of Nile Basin water is 55.5 Billion m3).

The average water availability per capita per year in Egypt is less than 1000 m3 and expected to be 500 m3 in the few coming years

Other water sources: Rainfall input (1.3 Billion m3 per year) Non-renewable fossil water resources (0.9 Billion m3)-Nubian

sandstone aquifer Renewable water sources (6.1 Billion m3) Recycling of agricultural wastewater (7.5 Billion m3) Treated domestic waters (1.4 Billion m3) Recycling of treated industrial water (7.8 Billion m3) Desalinization of seawater (1% of total water use)

The agriculture sector consumes 58.65 Billion m3 per year (85% of water resources), industry sector uses 7.50 Billion m3 per year, domestic use 4.75 Billion m3

per year, Nile tourism and energy and other sectors consume 9.60 Billion m3 per year.

The current annual rates of groundwater withdrawal is more than 400% of the recharge rate, which has led to reduction in water table levels.

Overexploitation of groundwater from the Delta shallow aquifer has led to increased water salinizationand rapid inland advance of salt water interface.

Despite the considerable efforts to develop the water resources and related infrastructure, large number of the population remain without or with limited access to water for domestic use, and many farmers have very limited access to water for irrigation.

(8) Biodiversity

The variation of terrestrial, aquatic and marine habitats has created different ecosystems that support biological diversity.

Biodiversity quality is more important than quantity.

Biodiversity “hot spots” face threats of habitat change.

Management and conservation of biodiversity

Iin-situ conservation- e.g., protected areas and biosphere reserves, and species rehabilitation (Acacia, Avicennia and Rhizophora, and captive breeding trials for the Egyptian tortoise).

Ex-situ conservation- e.g., establishment of gene bank for wild plants and crop cultivars

Total of 27 protected areas (PAs) have been declared in Egypt. The present legally protected area network covers over 10% of Egypt's land area. It is planed that PA network by 2017 reaches 40 PAs to cover 17% of total country area

About 70% of wild plant species are known to be of potential value, and about 10% have the potential for commercial exploitation. Many species are known as under-utilized and have multipurpose value.

Distribution of the declared protected areas

Avicennia marina Rhizophora mucronata

Egyptian tortoise

Acacia trees

Drought & Tourism

The major threats to biodiversity

Poaching

Fossil Wales

Habitat change

Over-collection

Changing life style of local people

(9) AgricultureAbout 95% of the lands are deserts, while arable land

reaches only 2.6% of country areaRainfed areas suffer from prolonged drought.The increasingly concentrated patterns of human

settlement around the Nile River has greatly reduced the opportunity for geographic expansion.

By 2050, land-person ratios will decline from an average 0.3 hectares per person to 0.1-0.2 hectares.

Intensification of production—obtaining more output by multiple cropping increased soil degradation.

The cultivated area is 7.5 million hectares, and the cropped area 13.8 million hectares.

Agricultural land suffers from loss of soil fertility and soil degradation

About 30-40% of cultivated land in Nile Delta is now salt affected

Only 5% of cultivated lands are in excellent condition, 40% good, and the remaining 55% are either medium or poor.

Agriculture comprises 17.3% of Egypt’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Almost 50% of the Egyptian population relies on agriculture for income generation and employment opportunities.

The total value of agricultural production is about LE. 42 billion (US$ 8 billion).

Agricultural exports represent about 5% of total exports.

Forests Egypt does not have natural forests in the strict meaning.

However, some wooded areas as represented by the natural vegetation in desert valleys and depressions support forest-like stands (open forests) of trees.

The reeds in wetlands and cultivated trees as windbreaks or hedgerows around farms, along roads and canals constitute another forest-like resource. Mangroves or tidal forests (coastal woodlands) occupy small areas of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba coasts.

Significant afforestation activities, especially, depending on treated sewage water. About 2500 hectares are planted by both the governmental and the private sectors for purposes of protecting soils, water-courses and farms from winds and storms.

The total forest area in Egypt represents about 0.03% of the total area of the country.

Legislation and Institutional FrameworkNational legislation

More than 20 national laws, beside many Presidential, Prime Ministerial, Ministerial and Governor Decrees were declared to support or fill gaps in law implementation.

International TreatiesEgypt signed about 60 international conventions, agreements and

protocols. According to the constitution, all international treaties signed have the power of national legislation.

Legislation enforcementEnvironmental legislation implementation in Egypt faces some challenges

including: Lack of coordination among stakeholders and concerned authorities Lack of financial resources Laxity in law enforcement Lack/ absence of incentives for investment in environmental protection projects Lack of awareness at different levels from public to personnel responsible for

law implementation

Policies and challengesThe policies and challenges include: Rearranging land and ecosystem use patterns Improving environmental monitoring and forecasting systems

such as using remote sensing technology Integrated and more efficient resource management considering

products life cycle and impacts on environment Revision of the policies to reduce the degradation of ecosystems Restoration of the degraded habitats and ecosystems. Adoption of integrated environmental management plans Increasing national and international coordination Introducing the appropriate environmental technology Improving the use of information-based knowledge on

ecosystems development Public-private partnership for investment in environment

related development and infrastructure Continuous support for capacity building, legislation and

institutional coordination

Rating of the available knowledge on the societal benefit areas of GEOSS

XAgriculture9

XBiodiversity8

XWater7

XEnergy6

XHealth5

XDisasters4

XClimate3

XWeather2

XEcosystems1

Data available but many gapsGoodVery good

Sectorial areas of GEOSS

No.

ConclusionsBecause of the overpopulation and limited natural

resources in Egypt, the country faces many environmental challenges and has limited capacity to prevent or cope with the existing and emerging problems.

Despite the considerable efforts, large number of the population remain with limited access to resources to meet their needs- an important cause of environmental degradation.

Policies, challenges and future outlook consider the knowledge-based sustainable use of resources.

Thank you