Mangroves provided a wide range of benefits to a broad range of stakeholder groups. Key benefits arising from Egypt’s mangroves that are likely to accrue to different stakeholder groups are highlighted in Table 5. The table reveals the socio-economic significance (in terms of incomes and employment) of mangroves to Bedouin and local communities in particular. This is for their direct and indirect fisheries function, tourism related benefits, browsing (camels and goats), landscape benefits, coast protection and sediment regulation functions. Pharmaceutical, medicine and apiculture benefits are also potentially very important if they could be developed. The table demonstrates that different types of benefit are more relevant to different types of stakeholder group. It has been compiled based on discussions and observations made during the study.
Table 5 Key benefits arising to different stakeholders groups from Egypt’s mangroves
Notes: I = income, E = employment, B = benefit, on a scale of 0 (not important) to 3 (very important).
* current status for all is 0, the values in the table relate to potential values.
Of increasing importance to current World affairs is to eradicate global poverty. An important way to achieve this is by ensuring that local communities become self sufficient for food and water in a sustainable way. Furthermore, much attention is given to maintaining ethnic minorities and traditional customs. For this reason, special attention is paid to maintaining and supporting a sustainable Bedouin lifestyle within Egypt.
Many Bedouin live on the coast of Egypt and have utilised mangrove resources for hundreds of years. It appears, through discussions with Bedouin during this study, and from previous studies that have addressed Bedouin lifestyles (Galal, 2002, and El Bastawisi, 1995), that Bedouin still have an important relationship with mangroves. However, this relationship seems to vary depending on whether the mangroves are in a National Reserve or not. It should also be noted that Egypt’s mangroves are protected nationally by Laws No. 102/83 and 4/94 and by Prime Ministerial Decree No. 642/1995. These mean that any damaging uses of mangroves, such as wood collection, are in theory banned. Enforcement of regulations outside of National Reserves and Parks is even more difficult than within.
In general, the Bedouin men undertake fishing activities out at sea, whilst the women collect shellfish along reef flats. Bedouin men look after camels whilst the women herd goats. The main traditional activities undertaken by Bedouin are livestock raising, minor seasonal agriculture, horticulture and fishing (El Bastawisi, 1995). However, Bedouin are increasingly getting involved in tourism, through acting as tourist guides, dive masters and assistants, cooking traditional Bedouin meals, camel riding and making souvenirs for tourists.
Within Nabq Protected Area, the Bedouin traditionally used to use timber from Avicennia marina for cooking requirements and for special occasions. In addition, they used to use poles for light construction, and allowed their camels and goats to graze it. However, by 1994 there appeared to be noticeable increase in rate of physical damage to mangroves. This was also due to growing demands for firewood from neighbouring tourism centres around Sharm El Sheik and Dahab, where hotels and visitors used wood for cooking and camp fires (Galal, 2002).
An agreement was made between the EEAA and Bedouin that the Bedouin should refrain from using mangrove wood except for dead and dry branches (<15 cm) for basic cooking requirements. In return, tourist activities and fishing rights would be reserved for the Bedouin. The Park also employs Bedouin as Community Rangers. Their duties include patrolling the mangrove areas in support of environmental regulations (Galal, 2002). There are now eight Bedouin employed in the South Sinai Parks. They also help to run the restaurant in Nabq and sell jewellery and clothes made by the Bedouin.
Discussions with the Bedouin chief in El Ghargana, the Bedouin village next to a mangrove site, revealed the following information:
• There are about 200 to 250 people living in the village, representing around 60 to 65 families
• They have been there since 1956 because it is a nice spot for fishing.
• They fish using nets from boats up to 1.5 km from the shore.
• They catch 0-4 kg fish per day.
• The best fishing is between April and May.
• There is little fishing between November and December due to the winds.
• However, there is a current ban on all fishing in the Reserve imposed by the Government. This is upsetting the Bedouin because they rely upon fishing to eat and survive.
• Six Bedouin work in the Park earning LE 500 – 600 per month (approximately US$ 110 – 130 per month).
• Mangroves used to be important for fuel wood and browsing camels and goats in droughts.
• The goats and one resident camel are not allowed to eat the mangroves.
• Mangroves are important for tourism.
• Most tourists have never seen trees that live in the sea before.
• They are aware that small fish live amongst the roots.
• The fathers always used to tell their sons to look after the mangroves for goats and camels in case of severe droughts in the future.
• The mangroves provide a good view for the village.
• They have tried replanting mangroves with little success.
However, outside the National Parks and Reserves the situation is different. There are a number of Bedouin villages along the Red Sea Protectorate coast, but few immediately adjacent to a mangrove, for example, at Wadi Al-Qul’an delta, Hamata. Here, as was the case before the reserve was established in Nabq, the Bedouin mainly use the mangroves for camel and goat browsing, some fishing and fuel. The mangroves also play important erosion and flood protection functions as well as providing an attractive landscape for the village.
Discussion with the Bedouin chief at Wadi Al-Qul’an delta, revealed the following:
• There are about 50 people from 12 households
• There are about 10 fishermen who catch fish out at sea and sell around 2-3 kg of fish per day at LE 10 – 15/kg (US$ 2.2 – 3.3).
• The Bedouin use dead and dry mangrove wood for fuel
• Their camels and goats (1 or 2 each per family) use the mangroves to graze.
• This is particularly important in times of drought, as a food of the last resort, at which times up to 20 camels may be found there.
• They do a little fishing around the mangroves, mainly for small fish.
• They do not collect any shellfish from the mangroves.
• They are interested in eco-tourism as long as it relates to their traditions, but they are aware that tourism may bring problems.
The mangroves also currently help support other Egyptian livelihoods through tourism in Ras Mohammed National Park and Nabq National Reserve. This support is primarily partial and indirect, in that the mangroves are one of a number of features that tour guides take visitors to see. This aspect, together with the potential for other mangroves is detailed further in Section 5.9. Furthermore, as described in Sections 6.1 and 6.2, mangroves also support the fisheries of the Red Sea. In this way, they indirectly support a considerable number of jobs.