UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

03/24/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/24/2021 03:10

Ecology and Earth Sciences

Program Description

The major strategic objectives of the Ecology and Earth Science (EES) program in Egypt comprises the following:

  • Supporting the conservation of natural and geological heritage through the strengthening of the ArabMAB network and paving the way for the establishment of Arab Geopark Network
  • Strengthening socio-ecological systems resilience to address natural hazards patterns in the Arab Region
  • Establishing communities of practices to ensure a well-rounded Ecology and Earth Sciences Programme in the Arab region
  • Fostering inter- and intra-regional cooperation through the establishment of mechanism to ensure ecological, social and economic landscapes connectivity

EES program Achievements in 2020 in Egypt

Thematic activities:

  • Index toolkit on Effective Management of ArabMAB network- One Biosphere Reserve in Egypt will be addressed for validation of the toolkit and update of the Management plan.
  • Assessment of the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on Biosphere Reserves launched through the collection of necessary data including the positive and negative externalities of the COVID-19 on the environment, society and economy of the ArabMAB Network. Case studies will be drawn from the BRs that have enough data to be analyzed and presented in webinars planned for 2021-Biosphere Reserve in Egypt are among the BRs case studies if full data is gathered.
  • Assessment of the socio-economic impacts of multiple hazards including COVID-19 in Egypt and Jordan through desk reviews and field surveys in selected sites in the context of defining urgent interventions for strengthening the socio-ecological systems in these sites and provide models to be adapted/applied elsewhere in countries and in the region - Two governorates from Egypt will be addressed.
  • Two initiatives launched on the occasion of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2020. The initiatives are addressed to women and youth to reconnect with nature during and post COVID-19 crisis. The initiatives invite both women and youth to share how they have spent their days involving photography, diary and traditional food recipes prepared, and traditional crafts.
  • Illustration competition launched in preparation of the educational toolkit for the Biosphere Reserves in the Arab Region

Publications:

Egypt Biosphere Reserves, Geological heritage richness and country profile are part of the three following 2020 publications:

  • Geological Heritage in the Arab Region: Value for Research & Development
  • Biosphere Reserves in the Arab region: Outreaching to Society
  • ATLAS on Natural Hazards in the Arab Region: A tool for socio-ecological systems resilience and adaptation'