Egypt’s Red Sea is replete with mangrove forests, strategic and environmental resources that protect nature and support the state’s efforts to promote sustainable development.
On the occasion of World Environment Day, observed annually on 5 June, the Egyptian Environment Without Borders Association (EWBA), in cooperation with the Society of Writers on Environment and Development, launched an extensive programme on Environmental Awareness on Mangrove Conservation and the Promotion of Nature-Based Solutions in the Red Sea, intended to draw attention to the area’s mangrove forests.
The three-day programme brought together experts, media professionals, and civil society representatives in the Red Sea governorate. It was marked by the planting of mangrove trees in the Wadi Al-Gemal Nature Reserve in the governorate’s Marsa Alam city.
These efforts are part of the association’s Carbon Sequestration through Mangrove Cultivation in the Red Sea project, implemented in cooperation with the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA). Through such activities, it is seeking to deliver the message that environmental protection is no longer a luxury but a necessity for safeguarding the future of the coming generations.
In the south of Egypt where the sea and the desert intertwine, mangrove trees not only protect shorelines but also nurture life, offering hope to a planet searching for natural solutions to its escalating environmental challenges. In recent years, mangroves have emerged as one of the world’s most effective natural assets in the fight against climate change, owing to their exceptional capacity to absorb carbon, support biodiversity, and bolster the blue economy.
The present writer took part in the EWBA programme, joining the participants in an 11-hour journey from Cairo to Hurghada, Marsa Alam, and finally Hamata 950 km south of the capital. The grandeur of the silent desert meeting the astounding beauty of the Red Sea coast rendered the long trip an awe-inspiring experience.
This coastline is home to world-class resorts, marine and desert protected areas, and investment projects. Along the way, the participants passed through Sahl Hasheesh, known for its international hotels and seaside promenade, Hurghada, a premium destination for diving enthusiasts, Makadi Bay, and Safaga, which also hosts a mangrove cultivation project, before reaching Qusseir and Marsa Alam.
South of Marsa Alam lies the Wadi Al-Gemal Protected Area, one of the world’s foremost ecotourism destinations. The reserve offers a distinctive tourism experience that combines desert safaris and diving activities, while hosting a pristine marine environment that includes the Wadi Al-Gemal Island as well as the beaches of Honkorab and Qulaan.
Adel Abdallah Suleiman, chairman of the EWBA and an international biodiversity expert, told Al-Ahram Weekly that “mangrove trees act as a safety net for the entire ecosystem. They possess a unique quality known as ‘blue carbon’ allowing them to trap carbon deep within coastal sediments for periods that exceed the storage capacity of tropical terrestrial forests five-fold, locking away harmful emissions and helping to protect the atmosphere.”
Suleiman said that carbon credits generated through the mangrove sequestration of CO2 have a high value because of their association with biodiversity conservation. In this way, each tree contributes not only to environmental protection but also to generating income, he added.
Mangroves serve as both the nursery and the lifeblood of marine ecosystems in the area, Suleiman said. Beneath their intricate root systems, juvenile fish find refuge and raise their young away from predators, while migratory birds, exhausted from long journeys, rest among their branches.
“When we plant mangroves,” he said, “we are rebuilding nature’s home. We are putting the concept of the blue economy into practice in a practical way that ensures the sustainability of life for us and future generations.”
PROJECT: The EWBA project aims to “cultivate and restore 300 hectares of mangrove forests in Wadi Al-Gemal to boost the capacity of coastal ecosystems to store carbon, rehabilitate habitats, and ultimately help to adapt to climate-change repercussions over the long term,” Suleiman said.
This project is “a practical model for implementing the blue economy concept, which is based on the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources in a manner that balances environmental protection with economic and social development,” he added.
EWBA is also exploring opportunities to connect the project to voluntary carbon markets, thereby opening the door to sustainable sources of financing that can support conservation programmes in nature reserves and ensure the continuity of efforts to safeguard ecosystems.
This approach reflects a growing global trend towards leveraging environmental projects as drivers of the green economy by transforming the carbon-storage capacity of natural ecosystems into economic value that can help finance climate-action programmes and biodiversity conservation, Suleiman noted.
Project teams have planted around 30,000 mangrove seedlings at three sites. Two new greenhouses, with a combined area of 153 square m, have also been installed, while an existing 200-square-m greenhouse has been rehabilitated to increase propagation capacity and boost seedling production rates, he said.
Vertical shelving systems in the greenhouses have been installed to maximise production and optimise the use of available space. These steps are part of efforts to strengthen the project’s technical infrastructure and support its long-term sustainability, Suleiman said.
He said that the project extends beyond its environmental and economic dimensions and is fundamentally centred on empowering people. Emphasis has been placed on integrating local communities, especially residents of Qulaan in Marsa Alam, into every stage of implementation.
“Local people have participated in seed collection, greenhouse propagation, field planting, and ongoing monitoring and maintenance. This has not only generated direct and indirect employment opportunities but has also fostered a strong sense of community ownership,” he said.
“As a result, local residents have become the foremost guardians of the mangrove forests after recognising their value in protecting coastlines, supporting livelihoods, and promoting ecotourism.”
“Mangroves are a first line of defence and a natural carbon reservoir in the face of the waves of the Red Sea and the mounting pressures of climate change. This project is far more than a temporary environmental initiative. Instead, it is part of a renewed pact between humanity and nature, shaped by local efforts and guided by a promising scientific vision for a greener and more secure future.”
Sayed Khalifa, head of the Agriculture Syndicate, said that mangrove cultivation along the Red Sea coast is one of the most promising environmental and developmental models supporting Egypt’s efforts to address climate change, strengthen the blue economy, and preserve natural resources.
“Besides the fact that mangroves store carbon, reduce emissions, and enhance adaptation to the impacts of climate change, they also play a vital role in protecting coastlines from erosion, storms, and rising sea levels,” Khalifa said.
“Mangroves have significant economic and developmental importance, including the protection of marine habitats, support for fisheries, the creation of employment opportunities for local communities, and the promotion of ecotourism and sustainable investment,” he added.
Projects implemented in Red Sea coast locations have proven successful in terms of tree growth rates and the ability of mangroves to adapt to local environmental conditions, he said, with this “contributing to improving the quality of coastal ecosystems and raising public awareness of the value of marine environments.”
Khalifa stressed the importance of expanding cooperation among government bodies, civil society organisations, and the private sector to ensure more mangrove cultivation projects are implemented. “Such initiatives provide a practical model that combines environmental protection with sustainable development,” he said.
“Egypt has considerable scientific expertise in mangrove cultivation. Several Gulf countries have sought the assistance of Egyptian specialists in this field,” Khalifa added, also warning of the threats facing mangrove forests, particularly overgrazing by camels during March, June, and July.
AWARENESS: Director of the EEAA’s Non-Governmental Associations Department Islam Abdel-Meguid said that “in recent years, many civil society organisations have implemented projects that have contributed to raising environmental awareness, supporting afforestation efforts, conserving natural resources, promoting recycling, encouraging the efficient use of resources, protecting biodiversity, and helping address the impacts of climate change.”
Previously, “some associations operated in isolation, with each implementing its own projects independently and without coordination, often resulting in fragmented efforts,” he said.
“But today, cooperation, integration, and networking among NGOs have become effective means of creating sustainable and measurable impacts on the ground, while also enhancing the credibility of civil society work in the eyes of both the public and the authorities.”
Abdel-Meguid criticised the practice of signing agreements that may never be translated into action. “The result of such cooperation protocols unfortunately can be little more than ink on paper,” he said. “The objective today is to transform such partnerships into tangible projects that can truly benefit communities.”
“The Non-Governmental Associations Department views civil society as a key partner in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), given its ability to help reach diverse segments of society and translate environmental awareness into positive daily practices that contribute to improving the quality of life for future generations.”
The department is committed to supporting civil society organisations, he said, removing any obstacles that may hinder their work and expanding initiatives that promote the green transition, particularly the presidential afforestation initiative and efforts to protect natural reserves in line with Egypt’s vision of building a more sustainable and resilient economy.
Over the course of the three-day programme, participants took part in field visits to the Wadi Al-Gemal Protected Area, Marsa Alam, and Hamata to inspect mangrove nurseries and cultivation sites in Qulaan. The tours were conducted under the supervision of Mohamed Ali, coordinator of the Red Sea project.
“The project also focuses on community development and the economic empowerment of local residents,” Ali said.
He led an open discussion with representatives of local communities in the Red Sea area to examine the role of local people in environmental protection and the benefits they can derive from mangrove cultivation, including employment opportunities created through participation in planting activities.
Discussions also covered a beekeeping project, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing local communities and future initiatives to promote environmental sustainability.
This year’s World Environment Day activities conveyed the message that environmental protection begins with supporting nature-based solutions and strengthening partnerships among institutions, experts, and civil society organisations.
Mangrove trees are the symbol of this message, with their cultivation presenting a practical model that combines environmental conservation, climate action, and sustainable development.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 25 June, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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