Forests and the forestry sector |
Resources
Egypt is lightly forested, with tree cover of 72 000 ha, amounting to much less than 1 percent of the country¿s land area. Most of Egypt¿s vegetation occurs in the Nile valley and delta, where most of the country¿s population lives, putting tremendous strain on the delicate ecosystem. Almost all the substantive forest is plantation forest, with Casuarina spp. and Eucalyptus spp. most common. Egypt has virtually no natural forests. Most growing trees are introduced. There only a few indiginous species such as Acacia nilotica, Balanitus aegyptiaca, Ficus sycamorus, Tamarix aphylla and mulberries. Areas of mangroves occur around the Red Sea, and palms fringe parts of the country¿s coastline. The arid Sahara and Sinai deserts, which constitute 96 percent of the country¿s area, have sparse and scattered scrub vegetation. Relict woodland occurs on the slopes of Gabal Elba. Egypt has about a dozen protected areas, the largest being the 20 000 hectare Gabel Elba conservation area.
Pressure on the available water resources is severe. The present per caput availability is in the order of 1 000 m3 per year, which indicates that Egypt is currently under ¿water stress¿. The current environmental focus, shaped by the concept of sustainable development, gives top priority to the reduction, recycling and reuse of wastes, including wastewater.
By mid-2003, the Undersecretariat for Afforestation and Environment had raised 19 plantations, comprising 2 500 ha, using treated waste water. The plantations are in the form of windbreaks, shelterbelts and roadside plantings in irrigated areas or around urban centres.
Products
Limited quantities of wood are burned as fuel in Egypt. The country has a limited paper production based on non-wood fibres. Demand for industrial wood products and most paper products is met by imports which constitute a large drain of foreign currency.
Important non-wood forest products in Egypt include essential oils, honey and medicinal and aromatic plants.
Last updated: December 2004