TOWARDS MAINSTREAMING LAKE BURULLUS BIODIVERSITY, NORTH EGYPT

Abstract

Lake Burullus is situated in a middle locus between the two branches of the Nile that form the Delta. It is one of a network of Protected Areas throughout Egypt, designated and managed by the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency. It is registered as a Ramsar site and the BirdLife International has identified it as an Important Bird Area (IBA). Recent surveys showed rich biodiversity of planktons, higher plants and fauna; including numbers of rare, endemic and threatened species. Fisheries provide the principal life-support system for the inhabitants. Other resource uses include: agriculture, livestock farming, fish farming, reed harvesting, bird hunting, tourism and recreation. This Lake and its surroundings are subjected to ecological and administrative constraints that lead to threaten its biodiversity and to excessive use of resources. To mitigate the impacts of these constraints for conserving its biodiversity, a management plan of five major programs that respond to five principal objectives was suggested: 1-restore ecological and landscape values, 2-maintain and enhance the ecological and landscape values, 3-conserve resources through sustainable management, 4-improve socio-economic opportunities for local people and 5- develop public awareness for nature conservation; projects have been devised for each of these headings. Eight governmental institutions are involved in the management plan: 1-Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, 2-Nature Conservation Sector, 3-General Authority for the Development of Fisheries Resources, 4-Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources, 5-Coast Guard, 6-Water and Environment Police, 7-Ministry of Housing and New Communities and 8-Directorate of Public Health. A number of non-governmental associations (NGOs) also play a key role affecting land and resource use in the area. An Advisory Committee comprising all relevant stakeholders, including representatives of relevant ministries, NGOs, local communities and fishermen associations, was designated. The role of this committee should be re-formulated from being merely consultative to the more effective function of decision-making. A further Executive Committee headed by the Manager of the Protectorate will assist the Advisory Committee.