Location: Egypt – Al-Fayoum – Qaroun and Wadi El-Rayan Protected Areas
Funded By: The Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Implemented By: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Project Executed By
IUCN Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA), in collaboration with EEAA
It focused on two components:
Strengthening PA management for species and habitat conservation
Establishing community participation in PA and resource management
Key Achievements
- Improved METT scores for both PAs by 10 points through regular assessments.
- Established Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) to guide PA planning and monitoring.
- Formed Local Community Advisory Committees to strengthen participatory governance.
- Established an environmental education centre near Lake Qaroun’s management building in Shakshouk.
- Delivered capacity-building programmes on KBA, Green List, IBEX tool, soft skills, GIS, and more.
- Conducted rapid biodiversity surveys to update Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs).
- Finalized KBA assessments for both sites and formed the KBA National Coordination Group (NCG).
- Updated Wadi El Hitan management plan, enhancing gender mainstreaming and aligning with IUCN Green List.
- Developed species conservation plans for Fennec Fox and Dorcas Gazelle.
IUCN Members engaged:
- Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA)
- Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED NGO)
- CEDARE
- Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE)
Committees established: Local Community Advisory Committee
- Scientific and Technical Committee
- Engineering Committee for renovations
- KBA National Coordination Group