Mangroves, consisting of trees and bushes growing below the high water level of spring tides, are the most typical forest formations of sheltered coastlines in the tropics and subtropics. They are key components of the interrelated parts of the coastal ecological systems that attract the attention and appreciation of visitors that are nature-oriented, research-oriented or are natural scientists.
Considered to be unique elements of coastal ecosystems, mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems, which directly or indirectly provide economic and ecological benefits to man. They serve as buffers or inter-tidal protective zones against typhoons, storm surges and tidal waves, preventing soil erosion and minimizing water pollution; are instrumental in building considerable areas of tidal land; and provide unique habitat, sanctuary and breeding ground for endemic, rare and endangered species of aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna.
Any disturbance in the structure of any ecosystem causes adverse effects on the dynamics of the whole system. In some instances, the disturbance exceeds the tolerance limit of the ecosystem, resulting in resource degradation, which ultimately leads to irreversible and irreparable damages. Continuous indiscriminate use of mangroves has grave implications on the stability of coastal-island communities.
For instance, the economic interests in the utilization of mangroves are often in conflict with the ecological value of mangroves. Causes of mangrove forest destruction in every country vary––from conversions into fishponds to overexploitation for timber, firewood, charcoal and tanbark to improper management of ecotourism development activities, overgrazing, among other things. Once the mangroves are converted or severely degraded, they are no longer able to function as a natural system, thus generating unpredictable environmental problems.
Destruction of mangroves will inevitably have adverse effects on the lives of the local people, particularly on their income, food security and other related basic needs.
In Egypt, mangroves are an important scarce resource. The government of Egypt recognizes the close link between coral reefs and associated ecosystems, as well as the wide range of goods and services they provide, including ecotourism development, which is a boon for the local and national economy. As such, Egyptians have initiatives on mangrove conservation and protection.
The Ministry of State for the Environment (MSE), through its Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MALR) are the lead institutions. A number of other agencies, institutions and organizations are, however, also concerned with the mangrove resources of the country.
A Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded project formulated the integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) action plan for the Egyptian Red Sea. Within the ICZM framework, a number of activities have been undertaken in coastal areas but in mangroves it is limited only to surveying and mapping of mangrove areas.
The concerned agencies on mangroves such as the MSE-EEAA and the Ministry of Agriculture and Reclamation (MALR) had no actual field experience in the conservation and management of mangrove ecosystems. Hence, the Government of Egypt availed the technical assistance of FAO to prepare a national mangrove development program geared towards the conservation and sustainable management of mangrove ecosystem.
This particular project addresses the objective of “conducting studies and pilot activities on mangrove conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable utilization to gain experience necessary for the development and implementation of a national mangrove conservation and development programme”.
Notwithstanding its several expected outputs, the present study primarily aimed at identifying potential mangrove-based income-generating activities to improve the economies of local communities, while conserving the mangroves. These income-generating activities, such as ecotourism and benefits from non-wood forest products, must complement conservation efforts.
Specifically, the consultant was tasked to:
• analyze current potential nature-based attractions along the Red Sea Coast of Egypt;
• examine the feasibility of promoting ecotourism in mangrove areas;
• identify potential income-generating activities for local communities that are compatible with the conservation and sustainable utilization of mangroves;
• provide an in-service training to counterparts and conduct a one-day seminar on the findings and recommendations of the consultancy; and
• produce a consultancy report with findings and recommendations, which could assist the Egyptian Government in implementing a national development programme for the rehabilitation, conservation and sustainable utilization of mangroves in Egypt.
The consultancy lasted a month in one mission, covering the period of 4–30 August 2002. The consultant was based in Cairo, with field trips to the coastal areas along the Red Sea. During the mission, the consultant worked with the rest of the team and representatives from various government departments, particularly the EEAA, Tourism Development Authority and the FAO regional office.
The study was primarily conducted through secondary data gathering, personal interview of key informants, focus group discussions, field visits and direct personal observations.
