Tuesday March 19th, 2024
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Egypt to Develop Siwa Oasis Natural Reserve

With all of its natural diversity, the Siwa Oasis is perfectly deserving of a development and promotion project by the Ministry of Environment to cement it as part of the Eco Egypt campaign.

Staff Writer

Egypt to Develop Siwa Oasis Natural Reserve

Nestled between the Qattara Depression at the border of Libya, the Siwa Oasis has been officially deemed one of Egypt’s natural reserves since 2002. The urban oasis is home to an isolated people who live in the desert, who speak a unique dialect called Siwi. The Siwa Oasis hosts ethereal salt lakes, over a thousand springs and boasts a range of species like the turtle dove, the endangered slender-horned Gazelle and a wide range of plant species. With all this natural diversity - as well as its archaeological history, having hosted an Oracle of Amun Ra - the Siwa Oasis is perfectly deserving of a development and promotion project by the Ministry of Environment to cement it as part of the Eco Egypt campaign.


The campaign looks to develop 13 natural reserves across the country and turn them into major destinations for ecotourism. With the help of experts in environmental tourism, the project is expected to take a year and a half to complete, with funding somewhere between EGP 50 to 70 million.


Eco Egypt's ambitions may entail some legislative amendments, if a specific law is needed to protect the reserve and its biological diversity. The campaign will rely heavily on the workers on the reserve who are made up of 97% Siwa locals, and who will have an active role in making recommendations on how to implement the project.