EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Introduction

This report assesses the socio-economic roles and economic values associated with Egypt’s mangroves. Due to the nature of the study, it has only been possible to undertake a “rapid appraisal” of the socio-economic roles and economic value of Egypt’s mangroves. As such, the socio-economic assessment is only a partial appraisal of key aspects. Furthermore, the economic values determined are not highly accurate; rather they provide an indication of the relative order of possible value (see Annex II).

Further studies will be required to validate and enhance the accuracy, robustness and completeness of the socio-economic issues and economic values. Despite this, the study provides a valuable first step in the continuous process of fully understanding and evaluating the importance of Egypt’s mangroves.

Socio-economic and economic values

Table 1 highlights the main socio-economic roles that mangroves play to different stakeholder groups in Egypt. Through a variety of direct, indirect and non-use values, the mangroves help to support the lives and welfare of many people in Egypt, including Bedouin, by contributing to income generation, job security, provision of food and general quality of life. Indeed, the Bedouin and local communities benefit the most with respect to incomes and employment from mangroves, although stakeholders extend to the international community as well.

Table 1 Socio-economic roles of Egypt’s mangroves

Notes: I = income, E = employment, B = benefit, on a scale of 0 (not important) to 3 (very important). * current status for all is 0, the values in the table relate to potential values.

Direct use value is based on the direct use of a resource (e.g. recreation). Indirect use value is the benefit derived from functional services that the environment provides (e.g. the fact that mangroves harbour juvenile fish that support commercial offshore fisheries), and non-use value accrues to someone without actually making any current use of a resource. Non-use values have motives relating to: the option of using a resource in the future (option value); one’s own self-satisfaction (existence value); and future generations (bequest value). Non-use values also capture some of the biodiversity, social, heritage and cultural values associated with natural resources.

There are also many economic welfare values associated with Egypt’s mangroves. Again, these have been divided into direct, indirect and non-use values. The main current and potential economic welfare benefits are summarised below in Table 2. The highest values relate to recreation, followed by landscape value, non-use value, fisheries, shoreline protection and sediment regulation. However, with the exception of fisheries and perhaps non-use values, the values are highly site specific. Care must also be taken to avoid double counting (for example, one cannot necessarily add together landscape and recreation values at any one site). Compared to other mangroves, the recreation value per hectare for mangroves at Ras Mohammed could certainly be amongst the highest in the World, due to the high visitor numbers and small area of mangroves.

Table 2 Summary of current and potential values of Egypt’s mangroves

Notes: * For the current value estimate column, where no monetary values are estimated, “low” may be in the order of US$10s/ha/yr, medium may be US$ 100s/ha/yr and high may be US$ 1,000s/ha/yr.
** Much of these values are included in recreation/tourism and non-use value estimates.
*** Only appropriate for small areas of mangroves in highly developed locations.
**** Non-use value may vary from site to site, but due the high uncertainty of this value, the overall value could range anywhere between US$ 350 and US$ 100,000/ha/yr, with a best estimate of US$ 13,000/ha/yr.

Based on the limited available information, the Total Economic Value (TEV) of the mangroves at Ras Mohammed could be as high as US$ 182,000/year (US$ 91,000/ha/yr), and for Nabq Protected Area the figure could be as high as US$ 1,290,000/year (US$ 24,000/ha/yr). (However, see the comments from FAO in Annex II concerning the uncertainty associated with these estimates). Most other mangroves are likely to have a value in the order of US$ 13,000/ha/yr for fisheries and perhaps in the order of US$ 13,000/ha/yr for non-use values.

Impacts on mangroves

The extent of mangroves in Egypt has decreased significantly over the past few hundred years. This is particularly related to land clearance for coastal development and cutting of mangroves for a variety of purposes. Destruction of mangroves has been curtailed by law, but they still suffer from a range of impacts. In particular, excessive browsing and interference with hydrodynamics affects the health of the mangroves. Solid waste is the most common problem, but is more of an aesthetic issue. The potential threat of oil spills and damage from tourism are also cause for concern, however, they can be controlled and mitigated against to some degree. The key impacts are summarised below in Table 3.

Table 3 Impacts to Egypt’s mangroves and key values affected

Through appropriate management and restoration, Egypt’s mangroves can continue to provide many economic and socio-economic benefits. In particular, benefits that could be enhanced in the future include tourism and both pharmaceutical and genetic uses.

Recommendations

High priority recommendations include:

• The socio-economic and economic values and recommendations highlighted in this report need to be incorporated within the mangrove management and development programme.

• The values estimated in this study are provisional estimates only, based on numerous assumptions. Further, more detailed environmental valuation studies should be conducted to establish more accurate values for all the key values identified.

• There is inadequate information on the links between mangroves and local communities, particularly relating to camel browsing. The extent to which it occurs, its significance in terms of value and its significance in terms of adverse impact needs to be explored further. Alternative fodder provision options and camel exclusion schemes should be investigated.

• The potential recreation and non-use value of Egypt’s mangroves will increase over time. This process should be expedited through conducting a carefully designed and targeted public awareness and education campaign to inform local communities, the general public and visitors with respect to what mangroves are and why they are so important.

• It is also strongly recommended that a suitable questionnaire survey is conducted to determine people’s values for mangroves. This could be undertaken in conjunction with determining the value of other habitats too, and should be targeted at the Egyptian public and visitors.

• The potential recreation value at many sites has yet to be realised. Careful planning and management of recreation activities at selected mangrove sites may be appropriate.

The following recreation related studies and actions should be carried out:

• Visitor attitude and willingness to pay valuation surveys at Ras Mohammed and Nabq to determine the full value of the site and assess how the components of value are made up.

• Undertake potential demand studies for mangrove tourism at other sites. These must be designed by experts to ensure that appropriate information is provided to visitors in the questionnaire.

• Consider what types of facilities are required to enhance the value and protect mangroves from recreational problems.

• Provide a simple leaflet on mangroves for tour guides and visitors.

• Consider increased park fees if more of the money could be put back into management of the site. This would of course require careful consultation and implementation.

• The potential genetic and pharmaceutical values of Egypt’s mangroves should be explored further.

• The health of mangroves at Marsa Shakraa should be investigated, and an appropriate management plan developed. This would require assessment of the coastal road and its impact on hydrological conditions at the site.

• Mangroves that are experiencing stress from man-made structures affecting hydrological conditions and from excessive camel browsing should be investigated, and appropriate management strategies adopted.

Medium priority recommendations include:

• The potential use of Egypt’s mangroves for genetic and pharmaceutical purposes should be further explored, Low cost approaches (e.g. through University research) to assess the potential should be encouraged, with an assessment of potential costs and benefits.

• The possibility of introducing apiculture should be further considered, but the economic viability and all potential impacts must be thoroughly assessed.

• If other mangrove sites are to become part of a National Park or Managed Reserve, it will be important to have more detailed information about current fishing levels in and around the mangroves and reef flats.

• Explore the opportunity to develop small-scale aquaculture practices within or near mangrove areas.

• Consider creating more bird watching facilities, (e.g. bird hides near important feeding and nesting areas).

• Undertake a comprehensive study undertaken on the links between mangroves and both commercial and subsistence fisheries in Egypt.

Lower priority recommendations include:

• The potential uses of and demand for Rhizophora and Avicennia non-wood products should be explored, but only if it would be feasible to harvest them (or parts of them) legally on sustainable basis.

• The amount of mangrove wood taken by local communities and Bedouin should be monitored and/or surveyed in the south of Egypt.

• More data and monitoring of fish catches in and around mangroves may be useful.

• Planting and restoration of mangroves could be considered in locations where conditions are appropriate, and where addition green vegetation will provide an enhanced landscape.

• Undertake studies into the links between mangroves and other habitats and species. In particular, focus on the links between mangroves and birds.

• Problems of erosion elsewhere along the coast could be investigated, and the potential role of mangroves could be considered.