RANGER’S ARTICLE
Upstream-Downstream Wetlands Connect Us All
What is a wetlands:
Wetland areas are where water is a major environmental factor, including the plant and animal organisms, The Ramsar international Convention defined the wetlands as (the areas covered by the static or ongoing water or mixed fresh or saline, whether natural or artificial permanent or temporary, including the marine waters that are not more than a depth of 6 meters at maximum tide.
Wetlands in Egypt:
The northern lakes and the Nile of Egypt are considered the largest wetlands in North Africa and the most important, they represent 25% of the Mediterranean basin wetlands, migratory water birds find food and the necessary safety and comfort in these territories. The Red Sea is also one of the places of international importance because it is on the path of a major bird migration and nesting of some species of water birds, on different islands of the Red Sea.
Ramsar Convention:
Egypt signed the Convention in the Ramsar city, Iran in February 1971 and it came into force on December 1975. The Convention provides the framework at national and international level to safeguard the birds and their environments. Over time the activities of the Convention was expanded to include other topics relating to the maintenance and use of wetland resources in a rational view of the importance of biodiversity and human well-being. Include wetland 9% of the earth's surface and contribute to a moral in the world economy in terms of providing water; fisheries; agriculture and tourism
The Red Sea:
The Red Sea contains a large group of islands which have international importance for breeding birds such as gulls and punishment Alencarip and others, also an important place for the mangrove trees which are important environments for the proliferation of many marine organisms such as fish and their habitat also shelter for many types of water birds such as herons, gray heron, and rock and punishment Alencarip .The coral reefs in the Red Sea is one of the most important habitats and environments at a global level, many coral reef resources are rich genetic resources used in modern medicine and treatment of diseases , also as a barrier to protect the beaches and attract large numbers of tourists from diving enthusiasts for the enjoyment of watching the different organisms such as the sea cow , dolphin , sharks and coral reef fishes.
Threats to wetland:
Drying projects for the benefit of land reclamation, construction projects, construction of roads and residential areas, lakes dry up and lead in order to increase the agricultural area to change the map of the northern coast of Egypt in the disappearance or shrinking of the lakes that make the great efforts in the form of development and the development of lakes by:
1- The reduction of drying lakes and expand and increase the depth direction with the reclamation of desert land to maintain the lakes.
2- Development of urban communities around the lakes, commensurate with the nature of population and environmental activity.
3- To clear weeds from lakes and marine debris.
4- Reduction of pollution of lakes and sewage treatment to stop the deterioration of fish stocks.
Benefits of wetlands:
1. Water storage.
2. Mobilization and discharge of groundwater.
3. To achieve stability in the climatic conditions and storage of carbon
4. To improve the quality of water and the disposal of toxic substances.
5. To work a barrier to prevent the erosion of beaches.
6. Provide the wildlife, aquatic and terrestrial the food and the natural habitat and breeding areas of use.
7. Value stop stations for the migratory birds
8. Control of the initial flood.
The objectives of the Convention and the regional importance:
Ramsar Convention aims to halt the steady encroachment on and loss of wetlands in the present and future, “Upstream-Downstream”
