 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 21 - 28 January 1999 Issue No. 413 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
 |
 |
|
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 21 - 28 January 1999 Issue No. 413
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
|
|
|
Egypt Region International Focus Economy Opinion Culture Features Living Travel Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters
Photographer Randa Shaath was keen to capture the unique rock formations of Wadi Degla whose geological life goes back to more than 50 million years
Down by the river
By Ragi Halim
Wadi Degla is one of the hundreds of dry river beds of the Eastern Desert. It is unique, however, in that it is the northernmost one. "Herein lies its importance: because of its position, its geological formations are unique," explains Abdel-Fatah El-Qassass, former head of the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme).
Wadi Degla is only 40 minutes from Tahrir Square, and 10 minutes from Maadi. It is about 30km long, while its width ranges from few metres to over a kilometre. The last kilometre leading to the Wadi is dotted with signs advertising the tens of marble, limestone and granite workshops and quarries in operation there.
When we visited the place, construction debris and huge cement blocks were dumped at the entrance to the Wadi. A couple of hundred metres beyond what was once the mouth of the river, flies buzzed about heaps of what appeared to be cattle and poultry offal. Soon, swarms of flies and mosquitoes would have invaded the area. Two kilometres into the Wadi, its rugged natural beauty had become apparent.
Nature lover Mindy Bahaeddin once remarked: "Wadi Degla is a very unique place to introduce Cairenes to nature. It is an excellent one-day excursion for schools to organise, since it provides an opportunity to educate and enlighten children about nature. In one or two hours, visitors can experience the remoteness and complexity of the desert. The Wadi is also a valuable site for Egyptian universities, which can conduct field research there in botany, zoology, geology and environmental science."
The valley's geological life goes back more than 50 million years to the Eocene epoch. The majestic cliffs to each side of the valley were the river banks, and the valley itself was the river bed. The high cliffs are a powerful natural barrier even now, and have protected the valley's various life forms effectively.
The Petrified Forest nearby is 35 million years old. The geological formations of Wadi Degla are 50-60 million years old; if the Wadi's habitat or local environment is so different from a physiographic point of view, this is because it forms part of the northern Eocene limestone plateau," according to El-Qassass.
Only the petrified forest offers such a distinct habitat, although it lacks the richness of plant and animal life one can observe in the Wadi. None of Egypt's 20 other protected areas can boast such exceptional characteristics.
"This is why I think it would be wiser to consider the Wadi a part of the Petrified Forest reserve, rather than declaring it an independent protected area," says Petrified Forest ranger Ahmed Salama, of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Authority (EEAA).
The Petrified Forest, however, is separated from the Wadi by the Qattamiya road. Yet some environmentalists do not perceive this to be a valid division. "Many nature reserves have the same geographical conditions and limitations. Besides, the location of the valley (between the Qattamiya cement factory and the urban areas to the west) makes it a perfect buffer zone," says Samir Ghabbour, professor of ecology at the American University in Cairo.
The animal life of the Wadi is also unique. A frequent visitor reports having spotted a Dorcas gazelle; some academics claim there is evidence of the Nubian ibex as well.
"At least 20 species of reptiles are known in Wadi Degla, including the endangered Egyptian tortoise (located twice in the general vicinity). At least 12 species of birds typical of the Eastern Desert have been found, in addition to a variety of passage migrants, winter visitors and summer breeding visitors," said Sherif Bahaeddin, a scientific consultant at the EEAA's Biodiversity Unit.
Bahaeddin, while enthusiastic at the recent decision to declare Wadi Degla a nature reserve, is still cautious. "It's very good to say it is a protected area, but where is its management plan? We don't need more paper parks. Apart from the reserves in Sinai, Al-Alaqi and Al-Omayyad, the 20 other areas don't have management plans. It costs a lot to have a plan, with rangers and implementation tools. There are 7.5 million euros behind the successful management plan of St Catherine," he notes.
If funding, staff and grassroots involvement are not all they could be, perhaps NGOs should cooperate with the EEAA in managing nature reserves like Wadi Degla. Nour El-Dali, head of the Maadi-based Tree Lovers' Association, demands: "Why should we heap all the responsibility on the government? Our association, and many others, are willing to cooperate in any way we can to help protect the Wadi."
