Ras Mohammed National Park, ridge-to-reef

"Ras Mohammed National Park was established in 1986, and is Egypt’s oldest [national park]." The park adopts a 'ridge-to-reef' approach, which guarantees that activities such as coastal development and agricultural waste run-off do not pose a threat to the marine environment. Fish, migratory bird (such as a White Stork) and nesting turtle populations all remain high under the park's rigorous preservation efforts. "The protection of coral reef system on the park's coast is considered one of the park's conservation successes, with "90% live coral cover in some areas [and] an average of over 65%. By comparison, areas outside the reserve are typically 20-30% live coral cover. There are over 210 species of corals, including a high diversity of soft coral species. Many rare marine animals find haven in the reserve, and several locally-important species for community-based and commercial fisheries are well protected throughout their life-cycle." In 2018, the park received a IUCN Green List certificate in recognition of being one of the best protected marine reserves in the world.