Al-Ahram Weekly | Special

		Al-Ahram Weekly Online 28 Feb. - 6 March 2002 Issue No.575
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875		Current issue \| Previous issue \| Site map

Green plans
Tree-planting was high on the agenda of Minister of State for Environmental Affairs, Mamdouh Riyad, in his first press interview since he took office last December. He explained his vision to Mahmoud Bakr

Mamdouh Riyad photo:Sayed Abdel-Qader

In your opinion, what are the most important components of environmental policy in Egypt today?
Tree planting means a lot to the protection of the environment. After all, every tree is a 12-hour-a-day oxygen factory. With this in mind, we have started on a programme to plant 16 forests nationwide, whose trees will be irrigated with filtered waste water.
In addition, we are currently studying a campaign for tree- planting in rural areas. The idea is to convince every house- owner in villages nationwide to plant a tree in front of the family home. The ministry will undertake 25 per cent of the cost and we will begin implementing this project in the Fayoum.
What of the latest projects undertaken by the ministry towards environmental protection?
We have just agreed with the governor of Cairo, Abdel- Rehim Shehata, to plant a row of trees along the length of the Autostrad highway from the Bassatin district through to Saqr Qureish.
Another project we are concerned with is the hanging of flower pots on street lamps. We have started with Abbasyia Square and we hope that non-governmental organisations will take over the initiative.
You have called the year 2002 the year of the NGOs. Can you elaborate on this?
NGOs represent the Egyptian street and hence we prioritise cooperation with them. Towards this end, we held a two-day conference in Ismailia. Following intense consultations, we chose 76 projects out of 381 proposals presented by 178 NGOs representing all governorates, to be supported by the ministry.
I think that the most fruitful result of this meeting was the exchange of information and different perspectives and our identification of NGOs that we can work with. We hope to take this cooperation further in a couple of days at a similar meeting that will take place in the Sharqiya governorate.
What are your future plans?
We aim to incorporate environmental awareness in all development policies and national programmes and projects.
Air pollution is a top priority. The Centre for Measuring Vehicle Emissions was inaugurated recently in a bid to improve on monitoring current levels and work towards improving them. This is a $30 million centre -- the only one of its kind in the Middle East and Africa and one of six worldwide.
Another priority is the protection of the Nile. The ministry has succeeded in closing 34 outlets of industrial waste and we are keeping close tabs on the situation through regular monitoring of pollution levels in the Nile.
Also, the creation of green space is a top priority as is increasing public awareness among the public with regards to environmental issues.
As far as the ministry's internal affairs are concerned, we are in the process of regional decentralisation with the aim of maximising effectiveness and making our actions more grassroots-oriented.
And what of foreign cooperation?
We have banked on foreign expertise and funding in many instances. Recently, we have been cooperating with the Japanese. In fact, a large Japanese delegation is scheduled to come and plant trees in Wadi El-Natrun. In addition, we are working on cooperation with the Italians through a LE20 million package for projects in Wadi Al-Rayan, Siwa and Saqqara

A summary
The National Environmental Action Plan: 2002-2017
This plan comprises 14 programmes that reflect the priorities of the Ministry and the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA). The most important components of the plan are as follows:
The solid waste management programme: Aims at managing 60 million tones of waste annually in accordance with modern management principles and with the private sector's help. The government has prepared the way for the private sector to take over garbage collection in 21 governorates. The next stage is to prepare for the privatization of public waste dumps in the Qalyubiya, Menoufiya, Gharbiya and Dakahliya governorates. In addition, a model land fill is being prepared in the desert outside the 15 May satellite city.
The Ministry has allocated LE16 million to deal with waste backup in 13 governorates. To date, 5 million tones have been lifted with an additional 5 to be processed by year's end (see related article)
The Nile protection programme: This is a four-stage project aimed at purifying the Nile from current pollution levels. The waste of 34 factories has already been diverted from the Nile at a cost of LE360 million. The second stage aims at putting an end to all waste-water discharge into the Nile -- this should be completed by December 2002 at a cost of LE120 million. The third stage aims at purifying lakes that feed into the Nile. It will cost LE260 million and be completed by December 2006. As for the third project, it involves cleaning up the coastline by the year 2008 and at a cost of LE300 million.
The comprehensive management programme: Aims at improving air quality nationwide (see related article).
The friendly industrial cities initiative: A regulatory code has been set up and the ministry is currently implementing it.
Environmentally friendly technology transfer: This component aims at tapping in on Egypt's good relations with industrially developed nations in order to transfer environmentally sound technology.
Training and awareness programmes: Aims at changing people's habits through instituting training courses and utilising the media.
Prepared by Mahmoud Bakr

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