Over the past few weeks, Facebook campaigns and hashtags have been calling for a halt to cutting down trees in Cairo and other cities across Egypt in response to a wave of tree removals across the country. Users have posted pictures of streets, squares, and public gardens highlighting the disappearance or reduction of green spaces following road developments and expansions.

Wael Al-Shafei, a member of a Facebook group that advocates a halt to cutting down trees, said that “I’ve been monitoring the situation in Sadat city where I live. One street was widened by narrowing the median strip, and plants and trees that were approximately 40 years old and were originally planted when the city was built were removed. There were no trees left to provide shade, even though the street itself did not suffer from traffic congestion.”

“Other green spaces in the city have also been reduced. These used to extend over 50 acres, but they have been significantly reduced to make way for coffee shops, restaurants, and income-generating activities when they used to be free recreational spaces for people and children to enjoy.”

“It’s not only the authorities that are cutting down trees either. Many local people are doing so as well, including some shop owners who think that trees hide their storefronts from customers and reduce sales,” Al-Shafei said.

The reduction of green spaces for road development has been going on for several years, explained Mohamed Younis, an environmental policy researcher.

“I prepared a research paper in 2022 titled ‘So That the Greenery Doesn’t Disappear’ documenting the reduction in green spaces during construction projects and the development of service facilities. Cutting down trees has become the initial step in street-widening operations to improve traffic flow and provide more parking spaces, without considering the environmental role of trees and green spaces in cities like Greater Cairo,” he said.

“The reduction of the median strips and the removal of the trees to gain a few metres of road have not resulted from engineering studies or planning decisions that included environmental and social dimensions. We need to find other solutions to the problem of traffic congestion, as increasing the width of road lanes at the expense of pedestrians will not solve it.”

In some rural areas Younis also mentions the thousands of trees that have been uprooted during canal and drain-lining projects without any environmental impact studies having been done or well-defined methodologies used for minimising operations as much as possible.

He said that the priority of central development policies is the speedy completion of construction works, which has resulted in the marginalisation of the roles of stakeholders and residents in many development areas.

Younis cited the example of bridge construction and road widening work in Heliopolis in Cairo, which required cutting down trees and removing about 90 acres of green space without any community dialogue taking place. He said that some district administrations have replaced green spaces with investment opportunities, using areas under bridges as commercial spaces and leasing parts of parks for restaurants and coffee shops.

“There have been various governmental initiatives aimed at reforestation, including the Ministry of Environment’s initiative to plant trees in the most polluted areas and its ‘Go Green’ initiative. However, for these to succeed, they need to be part of overall policy, have sustainable management that applies health and environmental goals, and be implemented in coordination with the other ministries and district administrations that manage different parks, street trees, and other green spaces,” Younis added.

 

QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT: The problem of the disappearance of many urban green spaces has been discussed in parliament, MP Maha Abdel-Nasser told Al-Ahram Weekly.

 “I submitted a request for a briefing to the prime minister, the minister of the environment, the minister of transport, and the minister of local development regarding the decline of green spaces in many urban areas and the excessive cutting down of trees that has been done without considering the environmental balance,” Abdel-Nasser said.

She said that according to environmental statistics, green spaces in Egypt have decreased from 7.8 million square metres in 2017 to 6.9 million square metres in 2020. About 910,000 square metres of green space was removed in Cairo governorate alone between 2017 and 2020.

The Heliopolis and East Nasr City areas lost almost 584,000 square metres of green space in order to extend the highway network into residential areas and achieve the goal of enhancing roads designated for private vehicles.

She said that the relevant executive bodies are still acting without coordination among the various entities concerned. “We were surprised to find that amid public demands and calls for the government to replant and re-green numerous areas, more green spaces and trees are still being removed. Trees were removed in the Magra Al-Seil area in the Maadi barracks neighbourhood and in Merryland Park in Heliopolis, even though these trees were far from the construction works,” she said.

As temperatures in Egypt rise as a result of climate change, many people have linked the reduction of trees and green spaces to the increases in urban temperatures, calling for more trees to be provided to provide shade and lower street temperatures. In response to various tree-planting initiatives aimed at compensating for the removal of trees, some social-media users and members of Facebook groups opposing tree cutting have questioned how newly planted trees can fulfil the role of mature, decades-old trees.

According to Ahmed Al-Kenawi, a senior researcher at the Agricultural Research Centre in Cairo, trees can help moderate the climate and reduce temperatures by providing shade. They cool the places in which they grow, particularly urban areas where temperatures are higher than in rural ones. Tree leaves also filter out some air pollutants, helping to improve air quality, he said.

“Trees clean the air of carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. A mature tree produces enough oxygen to support about two to four people annually, depending on the type of tree, its age, size, and geographical location. However, before newly planted trees can become effective in cooling, shading, producing oxygen, and consuming carbon dioxide some years have to pass. This period varies depending on the type of tree and the environmental conditions in which it grows. Ornamental trees typically begin providing sufficient shade and cooling after about five to 10 years of planting.”

“Fast-growing species like Catalpa or Acacia trees can provide noticeable shade in a shorter period, perhaps from three to five years. Optimal effectiveness in cooling, shading, producing oxygen, and consuming carbon dioxide is achieved after nearly 10 to 20 years of planting ornamental trees, though fast-growing species may reach this faster with proper care.”

“The number of trees needed to purify the air and reduce carbon dioxide varies based on factors including the individual absorption rates of trees, the number of people living in a specific area, and the extent of pollution. However, rough estimates can be made to understand the number of trees needed to support one person. Each person needs about 0.25 to 0.5 trees to meet their oxygen needs and about eight to 17 trees to purify the air from the carbon dioxide they produce,” Al-Kenawi added.

Since June, a new package of decisions regarding reforestation and halting tree cutting has been announced. The issue has received the attention of Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad, who called for a national dialogue on it in collaboration with the Arab Office for Youth and the Environment and the Egyptian Sustainable Development Forum.

The dialogue involves representatives from the various ministries, the House of Representatives, and the Senate, as well as experts and specialists in the field of the environment, civil society organisations, research and scientific centres, universities, the Agricultural Syndicate, and media, youth, and women’s representatives.

During the dialogue, Fouad addressed many issues raised regarding the reduction of green spaces, noting that the policy of the government is to increase green areas and work with nature during the development process. President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi has directed that those responsible for encroachments on agricultural land be prosecuted, and he has supported numerous initiatives across the country, including the 100 Million Trees initiative, she said.

Fouad denied the existence of plans to cut down trees to free up space for roads but pointed to some instances of cutting down trees in certain areas that require mechanisms to ensure they are not repeated. She emphasised the need for everyone, whether in the media, MPs, or civil society, to convey the situation to the responsible authorities in order to improve performance and address any gaps or shortcomings.

She also announced the need for official statements to inform people about any development projects being implemented in their areas and any resulting tree removals, as well as replacement plans for these trees, to prevent the spread of misleading information. Reports on the progress of the presidential initiative to plant 100 Million Trees need to be made periodically, she added.

Fouad highlighted the importance of a single agency managing the reforestation issue, the establishment of a database of green spaces with proper coding, and training and qualifying specialists in reforestation who would sit on various executive bodies.

At the same time, Cairo Governor Ibrahim Saber issued a decision to ban cutting down trees or excessive pruning in all districts of the capital and directed that a committee formed for the purpose be consulted if there is a need to relocate trees under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment.

He has also directed that the head of the Cairo Cleanliness, Beautification, and Lighting Authority establish shops where seedlings are sold at affordable prices so people can plant and care for them.

Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli has issued a directive to regional governors saying that green spaces should not be converted into commercial areas. He also highlighted the importance of addressing water scarcity by implementing irrigation with treated wastewater and drip irrigation systems and of selecting tree species for new planting that are water-efficient.

 

OTHER INITIATIVES: Youth-led and other private initiatives have also played a significant role in supporting street reforestation efforts.

The “Plant a Tree” initiative, founded by tree enthusiast Ahmed Wafik, has made notable advances, for example.

“I launched the initiative in 2019, and since then environmental awareness has increased significantly, reflected in a fivefold rise in the number of followers on social media over the past month alone. The increase has motivated us to plant 750 trees in the past month, and we aim to plant 10,000 trees by the end of the summer,” Wafik said.

After planting 10 trees in front of his own home to satisfy his passion for plants and greenery, Wafik decided to give back to the community by planting 20 trees at his old school. He then expanded his efforts to plant trees in streets, squares, and public spaces in various cities, turning his green gestures into a broader initiative to enhance green spaces in Port Said.

“I chose Royal Poinciana trees as they are associated with childhood memories of the shady streets of Port Said. I then created a Facebook page and group to connect with individuals interested in contributing by purchasing trees to plant outside their homes or in public areas and with local officials to obtain the necessary permits and facilitate the process,” he said.

“While working on the initiative, raising awareness about tree planting, and finding affordable plants, I received invaluable support from individuals who shared my passion for increasing green spaces and recognised their importance.”

Ahmed Kamel, a greenhouse owner, provided seedlings at the discounted price of LE220 and delivered them to the planting sites. Mahmoud Fishara, the founder of a page dedicated to highlighting Port Said’s heritage sites, joined to promote the initiative and raise awareness about the significance of volunteer work in expanding green spaces in general.

“As people contacted us through the Facebook page, we helped them understand planting techniques and connect with greenhouses. Many were enthusiastic and requested trees for planting at schools or in front of their homes. On the page, individuals can share their experiences and photographs of tree planting, inspiring others to plant trees in their yards or donate to reforestation efforts in parks, streets, or other public areas.” Wafik added.

Private initiatives do not operate in isolation but also collaborate with Government initiatives and city councils, Eslam Bahnsawi, head of the Port Fouad City Council, told the Weekly.

“Youth initiatives have played an active role in Port Fouad, and their efforts have been met with appreciation and encouragement from both the local government and the city’s residents. The City Council coordinates with these initiatives to identify suitable locations for planting trees, ensuring they do not obstruct pathways and are in areas with a water source. We also select plant and tree species that require minimal water and have non-invasive roots or branches, preventing any impact on neighbouring properties,” Bahnsawi said.

“In addition to our focus on planting and increasing green spaces, we are also committed to raising awareness about maintaining existing green areas and trees. We encourage people to take care of the trees near their homes, to avoid walking on grass, and to refrain from cutting the branches of trees. We also strive to protect existing green spaces by avoiding tree removals during road expansions whenever possible. We only prune trees according to established guidelines only remove or heavily prune a tree if it is diseased and requires rejuvenation.”

Recently, the Port Fouad City Council launched another initiative to plant fruit trees as part of the presidential initiative to plant 100 Million Trees. “We chose to plant fruit trees like mangos and guavas, which have long been famous in the streets of Port Fouad and have given the area a distinctive character compared to Port Said,” Bahnsawi said.

“Over the past three months, we have planted 600 fruit trees, including oranges, tangerines, lemons, olives, and mulberries. In the coming period, we aim to plant another 3,000 trees. Alongside our efforts, we also plant trees for residents who contact us and wish to green an area or a street in the city. All the plants and trees we plant as the Council are provided by the state, reflecting its commitment to greening streets and increasing green spaces,” he added.

On a larger scale, local entrepreneur Omar Al-Deeb founded Shagarha, an initiative to plant fruit trees across Egypt.

“We have planted 370,000 trees in 17 governorates, in addition to raising awareness about the importance of tree planting among millions of our followers in Egypt and the Arab countries through our website, Facebook page, and the media since we started in 2016,” Al-Deeb said.

“Over the past eight years, thousands of volunteers who believe in our goals have participated in promoting the culture of planting fruit trees in streets and public places, as well as cultivating balconies and rooftops with vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, and small fruit trees, spreading the culture of sustainable development and the combat against climate change.”

“Seeing people eating fruit from a fruit tree on a street was the spark that motivated me to focus on planting fruit trees as part of our initiative and as a form of charity.”

“My initial goal was to try to eliminate poverty and hunger by planting fruit trees in Obour city, starting from the area where I live. Over time, our team grew, and more volunteers joined us in planting and raising awareness about the importance of fruit trees. Individuals volunteered to help us, but we also collaborated with environmental institutions and government entities like the Ministry of Environment, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, and local authorities.”

“Our main goal is to plant one million trees all over Egypt by 2030, focusing on cities experiencing the highest temperatures. This month, we will visit cities in Upper Egypt, such as Beni Sweif and Assiut, as they are known for their high temperatures. We have also received an invitation from the governor of Aswan to plan a tree-planting event. In September, we will seek to plant 5,000 trees in Aswan as part of our initiatives to address climate change, as Aswan has recorded some of the highest temperature among cities worldwide.”

“To mark the eighth anniversary of the Shagarha initiative, we also launched a further two new initiatives this year. The first, called ‘Eat from the Street’, targets governorates like Cairo, Beni Sweif, Qalioubiya, Kafr Al-Sheikh, and Daqahliya. It aims to plant 150,000 fruit trees in the streets and other public areas over two years in order to provide food sources of 4,500 tons annually and absorb 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide.”

“It aims to raise awareness about the importance of planting fruit trees among some 50,000 people.”

“The second initiative, ‘Fruitful Schools’, aims to plant 10,000 citrus trees and 20,000 aromatic plants in schools as part of our new educational institutions programme. We aim to increase environmental awareness among 70,000 pupils aged between nine and 18 and empower them as change-makers. The initiative will educate them through interactive workshops on environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and sustainable agriculture.”

“The students will actively participate in the planting. The trees will produce fruit to be donated to local food banks or used to make jams, juices, and pickles, providing economic benefits to the schools. We aim to generate 300 tons of food a year and to sequester 40 tons of carbon dioxide annually through our trees and other plants,” Al-Deeb concluded.

According to Ahmed Rizk, an account manager and a volunteer in tree planting, greening neighbourhoods promotes a spirit of cooperation among residents. The act of planting trees for adults and at an early age for children enhances their environmental awareness and inspires children to preserve green spaces as they grow up, he argued.

“I was among those upset by the removal of Cairo’s trees, especially in Nasr City, where I work. However, living in a relatively new and still uncrowded area, I have noticed that the amounts of green spaces have increased and that there are efforts to plant trees along the streets, compensating for the lost green space. In the meantime, people living and working in densely populated areas may be upset by removing trees for road expansions, as this eliminates the amount of green spaces on their streets,” Rizk said.

Sarah Ahmed, a laboratory physician and another volunteer, commented that “living in the Dokki district of Cairo, I have no opportunity to plant trees on the busy streets of my area. Nevertheless, my mother and I have utilised every available space to plant aromatic and other space-saving plants in pots on the roof, balcony, or in the backyard of our building.”

“That is also why I used to participate in reforestation initiatives, such as where we planted trees in new cities such as 6 October and Sheikh Zayed,” she said.

 

---

* A version of this article appears in print in the 15 August, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly