Under the patronage of Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment, and within the framework of the presidential initiative “100 Million Trees,” the Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Youth Foundation for Development and Innovation, the Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), concluded the first phase of the “Green Road” initiative. This initiative involved planting trees along roads leading to the entrances of nature reserves in Fayoum Governorate, which are key destinations for migratory birds. A comprehensive plan was implemented to green the entrances of Wadi El Rayan and Qarun Protected Areas, reinforcing the principles of sustainable development and contributing to a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations.

Minister Yasmine Fouad announced the planting of 850 trees—including Omani Mulberry and Golden Shower (Cassia Fistula)—along the road leading to Qarun Nature Protected Area. The initiative witnessed the participation of Dr. Essam Amer, Head of Regional Branches Sector at the Ministry of Environment; Mohamed Mostafa, Director of Training and Awareness at the Minister’s Office; Islam Abdel-Meguid, Director-General of NGOs; Dr. Hossam Shaaban, Director of the Fayoum Branch; Osama Al-Naggar, Director of Qarun Nature Protected Area; and Mohamed Ismail, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Youth Foundation. Additionally, the Fayoum Governorate, represented by the Local Unit of Youssef El-Sediq Center and City, joined the efforts, along with 100 volunteers from 17 African nationalities.

This initiative is part of the broader “Green Road” project, one of three projects funded under the Small-Scale Initiatives Program for Civil Society Organizations in North Africa – Phase III (PPI OSCAN3) in Egypt. It is being implemented by the Youth Foundation for Development and Innovation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment’s Regional Branches and Nature Reserves Sectors. The project focuses on afforestation efforts under the “100 Million Trees” initiative, in alignment with an agreement between RAED and the IUCN Mediterranean Cooperation Center.

The “Green Road” initiative aims to enhance ecosystem sustainability, improve air quality and create wildlife-supportive environments. Additionally, it contributes to raising environmental awareness and supporting eco-tourism, thereby promoting environmental sustainability in Egypt. The first phase of the initiative included the planting of:

• 150 trees (Mulberry and Poinciana) in Ashtum El Gamil Protected Area
• 250 trees (Golden Shower and Mulberry) in Wadi El Rayan Protected Area
• 850 trees along the road leading to Qarun Protected Area

This effort seeks to enhance vegetation cover and strengthen biodiversity within the local environment.