south sinai governorate environmental action plan …st-katherine.net/en/downloads/istitutional...

South Sinai GAEP Institutional Issues

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10 El Kamel Mohamed St., Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt. Tel: (202) 7359078 -7364818

Fax: (202) 7365397 E-mail: [email protected]

SEAM Support for Environmental Assessment and Management

PREPARED BY

August 2004

South Sinai Governorate Environmental Action Plan (GEAP)

Institutional Issues


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CONTENTS

1. Introduction on Natural Protectorates and Relevant Legislation 2. Background on the Nature Conservation Sector

3. Existing Operational Structure of the Nature Conservation Sector

4. Proposed Operational Structure of the Nature Conservation Sector and

its Departments and Units, Including Previous Studies Regarding Operational Structures

5. New Developments on the International and Regional Fronts that Have

an Impact on the Activities of Nature Conservation

6. Shortcomings of the Current Operational Structure of the Central Department for Nature Conservation

7. Responsibilities and the Nature of the Work Carried out by the Central

Department for Nature Conservation that Requires its Upgrading from a Central Department to a Sector

8. Proposed Operational Structures of the Nature Protectorates of South

Sinai

9. Geographical Framework and the Expansion of Activities of the Nature Conservation Sector, in Quantity and Quality


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1. INTRODUCTION ON NATURAL PROTECTORATES AND NATURE CONSERVATION As part of developing the South Sinai Governorate Environmental Action Plan (GEAP), input from the Nature Conservation Sector (NCS) in the form of interviews, discussions, reports, and internal correspondence was of much help in putting together a report on the institutional issues within the sector. Institutional issues addressed in this report include the existing and proposed operational structures, the strengths and weaknesses of the Nature Conservation Sector, how to position NCS to cope with the significant increase in tourism by 2017, options for institutional strengthening (i.e. separate agency, private management, privatization), and coordination of environmental management in South Sinai. The Nature Conservation Sector is the executing agency of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency following Law 102/1983, which manages 10% of the area of Egypt (note that most of the population inhabits 4.5% of the area of Egypt). The expansion of the network of protectorates is ongoing and is planning to reach 15 – 17 % of the area of Egypt by 2017, as per the decree 154/2001, which would include a total of 40 protectorates. The Nature Conservation Sector is responsible for the conservation of biodiversity in the country, effecting relevant international agreements, and cooperating with international agencies and organizations on various projects and activities. In addition, the Nature Conservation Sector has opportunities for increasing the country’s revenues through sustainable development and biotechnology, and conservation of natural resources. The last two decades witnessed the importance of natural resources, and in 1983 Law 102 on natural protectorates was promulgated. The first natural protectorate was Ras Mohamed National Park and was established in 1983, and today, in 2004 there are 24 natural protectorates covering 10% of the area of Egypt (100,000 square kilometers). There are four classifications of protected areas, listed as follows (the protectorates in South Sinai are in bold): Marine protected areas: (21%) 5 in total (Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba)

Red Sea: Elba Protectorate, Red Sea Islands, and Wadi Al Gemal/Hamata Gulf of Aqaba: Ras Mohamed, Nabq, Abu Galloum

Wetland protected areas: (33%) 8 in total (Mediterranean Cost and River Nile) North Sinai – Zaranik Port Said: Ashtum Kafr El Sheikh – El Borrollos Matrouh – Al Ameed Fayoum – Qarun Lake and Wadi Rayan Aswan – Salouga and Ghazal

River Nile: 144 islands Desert protected areas: (29%) 7 in total (Sinai and Eastern and Western Deserts) North Sinai – Al Ahrash


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South Sinai – Taba and Saint Katherine Matrouh – Siwa El Wadi El Gedid – White Desert Assiout – Wadi Assiouti Aswan – Wadi Allaqi Geological protected areas: (17%) 4 in total Cairo – Qubbet El Hassana, Fossilized Forest, Wadi Degla Beni Suef – Wadi Snoor Cave The establishment of the National Reserves Network falls under the International Treaty of Biodiversity (1992) and other related international treaties. South Sinai reserves and their Prime Ministerial Decrees are listed as follows: • Ras Mohamed, Sanafir, and Tiran Reserve (Prime Ministerial Decree

1068/1983 and amended by Prime Ministerial Decree 2035/1996) • Nabq Reserve (Prime Ministerial Decree 1511/1992 and amended by Prime

Ministerial Decree 33/1996) • Abu Galloum Reserve (Prime Ministerial Decree 1511/1992 and amended by

Prime Ministerial Decree 33/1996) • Taba National Park (Prime Ministerial Decree 316/1998) • St. Katherine National Park (Prime Ministerial Decree 613/1988 and amended

by Prime Ministerial Decree 90/1996) 2. BACKGROUND ON THE NATURE CONSERVATION SECTOR The Nature Conservation Sector (NCS) is one of the six major sectors in EEAA. NCS Director reports directly to the Minister and the CEO chairs the sector. The functional role of the NCS is to manage the natural conservation, and protection of biodiversity in coordination with concerned and responsible authorities; plan and implement the management of natural protectorates; encourage and follow-up on new individual initiatives related to nature protection activities; implement international agreements and conventions on nature protection, and raise public awareness concerning the means of nature protection and subsequent regulations. In the current NCS organizational structure, the NCS head reports directly to the minister of state for Environmental Affairs and the CEO. The NCS Head oversees both the Natural Protectorates Management Director General and the Biodiversity Director General. Each of these two directors oversees vast programs. The Protectorates Director manages the protectorates of four regions: Southern Egypt, Northern Egypt, Central Egypt and Sinai. The Biodiversity Director oversees four programs, covering: Biodiversity Economics, Environmental (Habitat) Diversity, Species Diversity and Genetic Diversity. On a level falling under these programs are sections covering specific categories on biodiversity. 3. EXISTING OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE NATURE CONSERVATION SECTOR


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Nature Protection

Natural Protectorates Management Biodiversity

SouthernRegion

Protectorates

NorthernRegion

Protectorates

Central RegionProtectorates

SinaiProtectorates

BiodiversityEconomics

Environmental(habitat)Diversity

Kinds andRaces (Species)

Diversity

GeneticDiversity &Gene Banks

Non-Protected

Economics

ProtectedEconomics

GeologyMicroorg-

anismsDiversity

AnimalDiversity

AnimalGenetics

BotanyGenetics

CEO

BotanyDiversity

Protectorate

Central Department

General Department

Department

Section

Organization Sub-StructureNature Protection

July 1995


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4. PROPOSED OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE NATURE CONSERVATION SECTOR AND ITS DEPARTMENTS AND UNITS, INCLUDING PREVIOUS STUDIES REGARDING OPERATIONAL STRUCTURES

In light of the experience gained from a national perspective on operational structures, and with respect to the present organizational set-up and the magnitude of works and responsibilities of the different levels of management, the management of the protectorates of South Sinai was issued by a decision from the CEO of EEAA 73/2002 to outline the management, specializations, and relationships among and within the protectorates, their respective units and departments, in addition to the job descriptions of each. The proposed operational structure has been approved on an experimental basis in 1998.


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Nature ConservationSector

Natural ProtectoratesManagement

Biodiversity

CEO

Central Department

General Department

Department

Section

Organization Sub-StructureNature Conservation Sector

2002

Information, Awareness andTraining

Financial, Administrative andTechnical Affairs

ProjectsTechnical Office

Planning, Follow-Up and

InternationalCooperation

Secretary andSecurity

Legal Affairs


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Biodiversity

Biodiversity Economics

International and RegionalAgreements and Regulations

Species, Kinds and RacesDiversity

Wildlife and Hunting

CEO

Central Department

General Department

Department

Section


2002

Breeding Unit

Nature Museum

Biosafety

Gene Bank

Mobile Monitoring Unit

Botanical Garden


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Nature Protectorates

Sinai Protectorates

Environmental ImpactAssessment

Natural Resources

Environmental Monitoring andResearch

CEO

Central Department

General Department

Department

Section


2002

Western Protectorates

Southern Protectorates

Central Protectorates

River Nile Protectorates

Marine Services

Northern Protectorates

Support for Local Communities

Marine Unit and Moorings

Heavy Equipment Unit

Central Lab/Workshop


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Information, Awareness andTraining

Training

Environmental Awareness

Geographic Information System

Information Centre

CEO

Central Department

General Department

Department

Section


2002

Environmental ProtectionTraining

Mobile EnvironmentalAwareness Unit


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Financial, Administrative, andTechnical Affairs

Marketing and External Services

Adminstrative and PersonnelAffairs

Financial Affairs

Technical and EngineeringAffairs

CEO

Central Department

General Department

Department

Section


2002

5. NEW DEVELOPMENTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL FRONTS THAT

HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF NATURE CONSERVATION On the International Front Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on development and environment in June 1992 in which transpired the international agreement on conservation of biodiversity, where Egypt signed in 1994. Earth Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa in August 2002 on sustainable development, where the environment became an integral part of development, not merely complimentary to it. Biodiversity was a central theme, among four other themes, namely, water, health, agriculture and poverty. With the coming of the 21st Century, came the rise of several critical issues in the light of globalization and international trade, which includes intellectual property rights, bio-safety, revolution of genetic engineering, cloning, gene banks, etc. There became international interest in plants and animals that are and threatened by extinction.


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On the Regional Front Directions given by the President in May 2002, where emphasis was put on the importance of national activities related to the development and services with respect to the environment, and the protection and conservation of natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations. National Strategy on biodiversity was issued in 1998 which was to be effective until 2017, was prepared by a large group of leaders, scientists, and Egyptian experts. With the involvement of the Ministry of Planning, the National Plan for the country, in the light of the National Strategy, as a basis of sustainable development of natural resources in Egypt, and creating a fair compromise between planned development and nature conservation, where eco-tourism would be one of the goals of the nature protectorates. Presidential decree 154/2001 to approve the national map for land use up to the year 2017, which includes a network of nature protectorates to become 40 in total under the responsibility of the Egyptian Environmental Agency Affairs. First International Egyptian Conference in Sharm El Sheikh in October 2003 on Nature Protectorates and Sustainable Development. Several recommendations stemmed from this conference including more efforts in preserving natural resources in Egypt, and protecting them from adverse effects and degradation, the importance of supporting management on scientific, economic, social perspectives, in addition to expanding the network of nature protectorates and encouraging international initiatives for their development. 6. SHORTCOMINGS OF THE EXISTING OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE CENTRAL

DEPARTMENT FOR NATURE CONSERVATION The existing operational structure was proposed in 1994 without taking into consideration the extent of the activities involved in the conservation of natural resources and developing the network of nature protectorates in the future, nor the increase in responsibilities in preserving biodiversity in Egypt. Lessons learned from previous experience in the management and development of nature protectorates with the European Commission, which had started in 1998 in Ras Mohamed Nature protectorate, was not efficiently utilized nor built on, while the other protectorates were declared as such on paper, without any development. The executive activities of the EEAA was not established within the framework as per Law 102/1983 and Law 4/1994, where executive activities involve field, work, technical, administrative, financial, and legal responsibilities, in addition to cooperation and coordination among the other departments, and organization and data collection of various analyses and information, monitoring changes, and use of state-of-the-art practices and tools in planning and follow-up.


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The size and diversity of activities within nature protectorates was not taken into consideration, and as such, the nature protectorates was a “section” within the organizational structure, which is incompatible with the nature of activities in nature protectorates. It is recommended that a study of all the roles and responsibilities at all levels be undertaken to upgrade the nature protectorates to medium or higher levels. 7. RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE NATURE OF THE WORK CARRIED OUT BY THE

CENTRAL DEPARTMENT FOR NATURE CONSERVATION THAT REQUIRES ITS UPGRADING FROM A CENTRAL DEPARTMENT TO A SECTOR

The department is currently responsible for the management and development of 24 nature protectorates covering 100,000 square kilometers, which is equivalent to 1.5 times the area of the Sinai Peninsula, which will be increasing in numbers annually to reach 40 nature protectorates by 2017, to cover 15-17% of the area of Egypt. Based on Law 102/1983, EEAA is the executing agency of the nature protectorates, and no activity is permitted within the protectorates without prior approval from EEAA. Preserving biodiversity, including monitoring and following up on terrestrial species (plants, animals or microorganisms) in the range of tens of thousands, of which many have not been identified nor classified. Such natural resources are worth billions of dollars according to modern sciences and environmental economics. Due to recent scientific developments in bio-technology, and making use of several terrestrial species in medical, agricultural, industrial uses and others, one of the responsibilities of the department is protecting biological resources and optimizing its use, and protecting intellectual property rights, in addition to sustaining such species. The activities of the department are carried out throughout Egypt, where the majority of the activities are in deserts, mountains, valleys, seas, and the river Nile, which requires trained staff capable of protecting the nature protectorates, and having the technological resources (equipment, tools, and facilities) and financial resources to finance its management and preserve its capabilities. Visitors fees for nature protectorates are being enforced on visitors of nature protectorates to use its facilities as per Law 102/1983 and Prime Ministerial Decree 264/1994. Funding sources for nature protectorates to enable them to be self-sustainable is planned, together with management of the activities of the nature protectorates such that they reduce the burden of the country’s budget in providing means for self-financing through revenue generation. A large amount of information is collected from nature protectorates and periodic monitoring of biodiversity, and satellite imaging to identify and follow-up on biological resources and mitigate impacts caused by development and human intervention, in addition to environmental assessment of the adverse environmental impacts resulting from violations and development activities.


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Training and qualification of personnel in the departments and units, whether internal or external, in coordination with various countries is ongoing. A training center in Sharm El Sheikh is responsible for carrying out specialized training courses in nature conservation for trainees in Egypt and other countries, as well as training courses on eco-tourism, environmental education for local communities. Coordination and cooperation, on various national, regional, and international levels, in light of expanding nature conservation activities in the country, and its relation with development, sector services, and regional liaison of environmental organizations, and international cooperation for the protection of species that are threatened by extinction. Environmental awareness of the needs of nature conservation is the basis of provision of conservation, and necessitates involving a large number of experts to introduce the subject matter in an easily understandable manner. 8. Proposed Operational Structures of the Nature Protectorates of South Sinai This section depicts the operational structures and the responsibilities of the departments and units within the nature protectorates, in addition to identifying the current staff, and the proposed staff.


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Manager of Sinai Protectorates

Financial, Administrative andTechnical Affairs

Environmental Monitoring andInformationNatural Resources Managment

Botanical Garden

Planning, Training, and Follow-Up

Marine Unit

Workshop

Laboratory Environmental ProtectionTraining Centre

Nature ProtectoratesRas Mohamed, Nabq, Abu

Galloum, Taba, Saint Katherine,Al Zaranik, Al Ahrash

Eco-Tourism (Administrativeand Residential)

Secretary and Archiving

Existing Staff: 47Proposed Staff: 55-65

Planning and Management ofprotectorates

Coordination with localadministration

Follow-up on the exectution of thework plan

Project follow-up

Follow-up on nature conservationtraining centre

Preparation of periodic reports

Management of protection activities

Follow-up on investment activities ofprotectorates and surronding areas

Monitoring of hunting activities

Environemntal Awareness on NatureConservation

Management of Field Units

Follow-up on Botanical Garden

Follow-up on Central Marine Unit

Land and Marine EnvironmentalMonitoring

Information Centre - GeographicInformation System

Follow-up on Environmental ImpactAssessments

Studies and Research on NatureConservation

Evaluation of negative impacts on theenvironment due to accidents

Follow-up on the Central Laboratory

Financial Affairs and Accounting

Personnel and Warehouse

Technical Affairs

Engineering Affairs

Follow-up on Central Workshop

Follow-up on Eco-Tourism Centre


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Protectorate Manager

Financial and Administrative AffairsEnvironmental Monitoring andInformation

Environment Management Technical Affairs

Secretary and ArchivingPlanning and Follow-Up

Ras Mohamed ProtectorateExisting Staff: 10

Proposed Staff: 15-20

Database (Geographic InformationSystem)

Specialized EnvironmentalMonitoring

Studies and Research

Coordination with Central Laboratory

Land/Marine Patrol

Reviewing Environmental ImpactAssessments

Project Follow-Up


Visitors Centre

Administrative, Technical andResidential Facilities

Transportation and Equipment

Improvement factors

Communication

Financial Affairs

Human Resources and PersonnelAffairs

Collectors

Warehouses


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Financial and Administrative AffairsEnvironmental Monitoring and

InformationEnvironment Management Technical Affairs


Abu Galloum ProtectorateExisting Staff: 8






Land/Marine Patrol


Project Follow-Up

Assistance to Local Communities


Visitors Centre



Improvement factors

Facilities' Maintenance

Communication

Financial Affairs


Collectors

Warehouses


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Nabq ProtectorateExisting Staff: 13



Secondary Laboratory



Land/Marine Patrol


Project Follow-Up



Visitors Centre



Improvement factors


Communication

Financial Affairs


Collectors

Warehouses


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Taba ProtectorateExisting Staff: 5


Environmental Units





Land/Marine Patrol


Project Follow-Up



Visitors Centre



Improvement factors


Communication

Financial Affairs


Collectors

Warehouses

Environmental ManagementEnvironmental MonitoringRangers


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Saint Katherine ProtectorateExisting Staff: 53


Environmental Units





Land/Marine Patrol


Project Follow-Up



Visitors Centre



Improvement factors


Communication

Financial Affairs


Collectors

Warehouses

Environmental ManagementEnvironmental MonitoringRangers


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9. GEOGRAPHICAL FRAMEWORK AND THE EXPANSION OF ACTIVITIES OF THE

NATURE CONSERVATION SECTOR, IN QUANTITY AND QUALITY The sector is responsible for a geographical area of 10% of the area of Egypt, which will expand to 15% by the year 2017. As for the protection of biodiversity, the sector is responsible for the total area of Egypt. Development and management of the nature protectorates had not actually taken place until 1990, nevertheless limited only to Ras Mohamed, followed by Nabq and Abu Galoum in 1994. The remaining nature protectorates had only been declared on paper by that time. The network of nature protectorates reached 24 protectorates currently, and expansion of this network is ongoing. The number of personnel in the central department of nature conservation and protectorates in 1994 did not exceed 30 staff, whereas today, there is 410 staff, and it is planned to become 1,500 during the next five years, which is equivalent to 1.5 person per 100 square kilometers (where international standards recommend at least 10 persons per 1000 square kilometers). Capital investments of the nature protectorates exceed 200 million Egyptian pounds. In 1994, there was only one small unit for biodiversity as a nucleus for what is later to become a department for biodiversity, with support from the UNEP (United Nations Environment Program). Egypt’s policy on biodiversity took shape upon the issuing of the national strategy and plan that was approved in 1998. The geographical framework for of the general department for protectorate areas includes between 7 and 10 protectorates each area, all of which have a proposed standard operational structure. On the protectorate level, despite having a standard operational structure, there exists some differences in the number of professionals, facilities, and equipment compatible with its area, environmental systems, and biodiversity, and activities. The smallest nature protectorate is Salouga and Ghazal, which cover an area of 0.5 square kilometer, and the largest nature protectorate is Elba, covering an area of approximately 36,000 square kilometers, and in the case where the Red Sea will be declared a nature protectorate, the area it would cover would be multiples of Elba. The central department for River Nile Protectorates will be responsible for the management and supervision of 144 islands along the length of the River Line and its branches for a distance that exceeds 1,000 kilometres, which requires monitoring the activities on the islands to prevent pollution from them into the River Nile and vice versa. A majority of the nature protectorates fall in underdeveloped areas, where work is ongoing in the protectorates for 16 hours per day on average, including national holidays, where employees get time off every 21 days. Based on the work organization, there is always two-thirds of the human power present on the job, whereas the other third is on holiday.


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From 1989 up to 1995, there had not been any international cooperation projects for nature protectorates in the department except for one with the cooperation of the European Commission in Ras Mohamed worth 2.5 million dollars. Today, there are 6 ongoing projects in the department or with the cooperation of the department valued at over 50 million dollars. Starting in 2003, work is ongoing in preparation of two projects involving nature conservation and biodiversity valued at 23 million dollars (the two projects are South Sinai Regional Development, and Development of Resources of Matrouh). Eco-tourism has become one of the makers of international tourism, especially after the United Nations and International Organization for Tourism announced that the year 2002 is the Year of Tourism and Environment, upon which the international conference for tourism and environment in Quebec, Canada in 2002. This type of tourism depends on the nature of protectorates and the activities of the EEAA in nature conservation, which represents a major assistance to the increase of the country’s national revenue from tourism. Tourism investments in the Red Sea and South Sinai are worth almost 4 billion dollars, and depends mostly on the health of the coral reefs, safety of the marine environment which is protected by the nature protectorates. These investments generate 50% of the country’s revenue from tourism. Nature protectorates is the major source of revenue in the Environmental Protection Fund. In 2001/2002, there was a total of 38 million Egyptian pounds from visitors fees to nature protectorates, charging for the use of the services in the protectorates, fines for violations resulting in negative impacts on the environment. The department for nature conservation is aiming at introducing marketing and economic incentives to enable self-financing within an appropriate framework suitable to EEAA.

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