Egypt Protectorates, Egypt National Parks

Egypt is in a unique geographical location. The country is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea in the north, red sea in the east. These water sources helped to seed Egypt with a rich natural heritage. As a measure to conserve the natural biodiversity of Egypt which covered the flora and fauna as well, a law was passed referred as 102 in 1983; this gave the prime minister the power to declare some areas natural protectorates in Egypt. Since then, 28 such protectorates have been recognized which include areas covering coastal, wetlands, geological and coastal protectorates.

The prime minister of Egypt has full powers to define the limits of any naturally protected areas and also set the basic principles for the management and the conservation of resources here. The natural protectorates in Egypt do not have anything linked with the colonial protectorates here.

Some theories also suggest that the protectorates that have so far been declared in Egypt cover around 15% land area of this country.

18 of the most popular protectorates in Egypt

• Ras Muhammad National Park, the first protectorate of Egypt, preserves a diversity of shoreline configuration and coral reef systems which are known globally as some of the best on earth. Around 1500 marine creatures can be found here.
• Zaranik protected area has an amazing collection of flora and fauna, including some rare species of migratory birds as well.
• Al Ahrash reserve in the northeast is known for its plants and trees making this a natural haven.
• El Omayed located in the Mediterranean coastal desert has some of the most diverse and richest flora on the globe and is blessed with dunes of white sand, limestone ridges with depressions and salt marshes.

• Elba protectorate has a large number of mangroves of the Red Sea, islands, coral reefs, coastal sand dunes, salt marshes, desert plains and a cluster of coastal mountains
• Salouga and Dhazal in the river Nile are characterized by 94 varieties of plants and predominantly expanding bushes.
• St. Catherine national park is a popular place among climbers and has 1000 plants species and around 40% of the total flora of Egypt.
• Lake Qarun is a famous archeological site due to its rich marine life and unique collection of flora and fauna dating back to 40 million years.

• Wadi El Rayan has interred dune areas around springs and over 13 species of plants. The world endangered species of slender-horned Gazella leptoceros can be found here.

Most of these protectorates have become popular as famous tourist destinations where lovers of nature come to watch the unique natural collection and even indulge in many natural activities. The protectorates are a habitat for many endangered species of plants and animals, and some of which are those that can be found just here.