Red Sea Nature Reserves

[Hurghada Lady]

Red Sea Nature Reserves Lose $15 for Each Visitor; $350 Billion Losses of Coral Reefs




By Mohamed al-Sayed Suleiman 9/ 4/ 2009


A report by the Environment Committee at the Red Sea Local Council has disclosed that the total revenues of the governorate's nature reserves do not exceed LE 10 million. Forty-four nature reserves lose LE 7.5 million a year, some $15 dollars for each visitor.

The report, supervised by the committee's chairwoman Naglaa Hammad, said the most important causes of loss are the conflict of competencies in management and the presence of more than one control body. In addition, only 50% of the reserves' spaces are controlled due to the low number of specialized technicians.

Every environment researcher controls a 15-km area, but the number of researchers does not exceed 150. There is also a shortage in instruments and marine equipment.

The report added that the loss of coral reefs nationwide amounted to LE 350 billion due to the destruction of 2.9 million meters of corals.

Therefore, the tourism income can be compensated only after 400 years. The report made a comparison between the Red Sea reserves and other countries, including Australia, which achieves and annual revenue of some $3 billion. Canada, for example, generates an income of up to $2.5 billion annually. Costa Rica pays $12 million a year to maintain and operate its reserves, and it earns up to $330 million.

The report has called for establishing an agency to include all bodies supervising the reserves. In addition, the natural reserves agency should be equipped with the necessary devices and equipment that help monitor and follow-up. The usufruct system should be applied to 30 islands in the Red Sea.

The experience of Samday reserve in Marsa Alam should be generalized. If the recommendations are followed, the nature reserves' income is expected to range between LE 214 million and LE 362 million a year.