Nile River

10,000 BCE - 2017 CE

The river basin of the Nile, the longest river on earth, includes over 60 wetlands and is one of the world's most important bird migration routes. The Nile supports 129 fish species, including 26 unique to the Nile watershed, as well as 137 amphibian species.

BIRDS: 4 species are extinct and 4 are endangered
FISH: 3 species are endangered and 51 are threatened
MAMMALS: 7 species are extinct and 6 are endangered
REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS: 7 species are endangered
INVASIVE SPECIES: 211 invasive and non-native species

Most Pressing Issues

Water Quality

The quality of the river water is seriously threatened by the Aswan High Dam and untreated industrial and agricultural waste, sewage, and municipal wastewater.

Loss of Agricultural Land

The expansion of urban sprawl into nearby farmland infringes on the already limited agricultural land in the Nile Delta and Valley.

Air Pollution

Dense urban areas such as Cairo, Alexandria, Al-Minya, and Aswan have poor air quality, worsened by lax enforcement of measures to reduce emissions from industrial plants and motor vehicles.

Coastal Tourism

Poorly controlled waste disposal in tourist centers have seriously degraded the water of the Red Sea. In addition, large concentrations of tourists threaten the fragile desert areas and the marine corals.

Species Loss

Egypt is home to many rare animal species but due to the lack of adequate enforcement of conservation laws, many, like the Dorcas gazelle and the Barbary Sheep, are being pushed to the brink of extinction.

How You Can Help

Nature Conservation Egypt

Nature Conservation Egypt is dedicated to the conservation of Egypt’s natural heritage through conservation, lobbying and awareness raising activities.

Red Sea Environmental Centre

The Red Sea Environmental Centre (RSEC) promotes coral reef research, education and conservation at the Red Sea.

Permaculture Egypt

Through community involvement, Permaculture Egypt aims to provide demonstration sites in Egypt that act as seeds for spreading awareness about permaculture.

Association for the Protection of the Environment

The Association for the Protection of the Environment works with the informal garbage collectors of Cairo, the Zabbaleen, to help them develop environmentally sound waste management and recycling techniques.

Nawaya

Nawaya is a team of young professionals that promote sustainable agriculture. Their initiative recognizes the need for development goals that are pro-poor and promote social and environmental justice.