Participants issued an urgent appeal to H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. They called for immediate intervention to halt all ongoing activities in the protected area, which is characterized by a highly sensitive ecosystem, until environmental impact assessments studies (EIAs) for planned activities in the area are completed.

The appeal, addressed to the Presidency, and a copy of which was published on the official Facebook page of the Presidency, stated that the environmental threats facing Hankorab Bay represent a grave danger to the unique ecosystem of the area, including rare coral reefs and endangered marine species. The continuation of these violations negatively impacts this distinguished site, which is a primary destination for eco-tourism and an important source for sustainable development in Egypt.

The appeal continued: “As a source of pride that Egypt was one of the first countries to prioritize the protection of ecosystems and natural resources in its national plans and issued legislation to achieve the strategic goals of these plans and ensure the sound management of protected areas, we present this issue that concerns Egypt’s environmental reputation and its leading role in biodiversity protection. We look forward to your wise intervention to ensure the preservation of this natural heritage for future generations, in line with Egypt’s vision for sustainable development and its international commitments in the field of nature conservation.”

H.E. Dr. Yasmin Fouad, Minister of Environment, was keen to participate in the first community dialogue organized by “RAED” in collaboration with the Arab Office for Youth and Environment (AOYE), as both are members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Egypt. The session included representatives from bodies and associations concerned with nature protection, members of parliament, experts, media personnel, and journalists, to address concerns regarding activities taking place in Hankorab Bay along the Red Sea coast.

The session began with a speech from Dr. Emad Adly, the General Coordinator of the “RAED” and Chairperson of the Arab Office for Youth and Environment (AOYE), who emphasized that the goal of the community dialogue was to present the full truth regarding the future vision of the protected area development plan and to ensure that development works within the protected areas are implemented in accordance with environmental standards and applicable regulations. He also stressed the importance of ensuring the sustainability of natural resources. He mentioned that this session marks the beginning of a series of community dialogues to review proposed development plans in various protected areas.

The Minister of Environment reviewed the preliminary concept for the proposed development process in the “Wadi El-Gemal” Protected Area and confirmed that environmental impact assessments are currently being prepared for the “Ras Hankorab” project, in light of proposals presented by a company to develop the area. She emphasized that since the Ministry of Environment began issuing permits to private sector companies to invest in protected areas, it has been a requirement for them to submit environmental impact assessments before any work is carried out, ensuring that development is done in compliance with environmental standards. She also pointed out that some violations have already been observed, and the necessary reports have been filed.

Dr. Mustafa Fouda, a nature protection expert, began the participants’ interventions by confirming that the management plan for protected areas was established before the creation of the Nature Protection Sector and after conducting several studies and implementing foreign-invested projects. He stressed the need to enforce the law while enhancing investment that allows for the maintenance of the area to ensure its sustainability, taking into account the opinions of local communities and benefiting from local expertise.

Mr. Mohamed Kamal from the “Greenish” Foundation, speaking as a representative of the alliance of environmental NGOs, presented a statement affirming that natural resources belong to the people according to the Egyptian constitution, and that the state is responsible for protecting them. Meanwhile, MP Nora Ali, Head of the Tourism Committee in the House of Representatives and Head of the “HEPCA” Red Sea Environmental Protection Association, expressed her support for the swift actions taken by the Ministry of Environment and the reports filed to address the violations. She called for more community dialogue sessions addressing violations in protected areas, as these areas represent a “national treasure.”

Dr. Magdy Alam, an environmental expert and member of the Egyptian Forum for Sustainable Development’s Board of Trustees, highlighted that many countries rely on the income from protected areas, like Switzerland, which, despite having less wealth than Egypt’s protected areas, generates significant economic returns. This necessitates looking at international experiences and learning from them. Dr. Ayman Farid Abu Hadeed, former Minister of Agriculture, pointed to the broader concept of nature conservation and the need to review new urban and tourism planning with an environmental perspective to preserve natural resources and make optimal use of them, while also reinforcing the Ministry of Environment’s efforts to monitor any construction work taking place in protected areas to ensure compliance with environmental standards.

MP Noha Zaki, a member of the Energy and Environment Committee in the Senate, commended the Minister of Environment’s efforts to correct the false information and news that had recently spread. She emphasized that a balance between the elements of sustainable development is achieved in the development of protected areas, considering their benefits and maximizing their economic returns. She also stressed the public’s right to enjoy natural reserves, while maintaining preservation standards and sustainable use. MP Maha Abdel-Nasser, who had previously submitted an interpellation request to the Prime Minister, the Ministers of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Minister of Environment regarding violations in “Ras Hankorab” in Wadi El-Gemal, praised the Ministry of Environment’s efforts and its focus on raising awareness about any potential threats to nature.

The participants in the community dialogue issued a series of recommendations, which were presented by H.E. Dr. Yasmin Fouad. These included forming a scientific group specializing in the issue of protected areas, holding another session after presenting the environmental impact assessment study, and conducting a field visit to the protected area with experts and journalists. The recommendations also included requesting experts to submit technical proposals regarding the development concept presented during the dialogue within a week, launching an awareness campaign about the importance of protected areas, the dangers of violations, and holding a series of community dialogues on other protected areas across Egypt.