Egypt: Land Degradation Issues with Special Reference to the Impact of Climate Change - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 114

its people of which 25 % live in the Low Elevation Coastal Zone (LECZ) areas. In
this context, the Nile Delta and Mediterranean Coast include 30-40 % of Egypt's
agricultural production, half of Egypt's industrial production, mainly Alexandria,
Damietta and Port Said. The three main Delta lagoons are Idku, Burullus and
Manzala produce over 60 % Egypt's fish catch. In addition, Alexandria is known
as the main summer resort in Egypt and the returns from the inbound tourism forms
one of the main sources of income to the city. Approximately 15 % of Egypt's GDP
is generated in these LECZ.
Due to the concentration of much of Egypt's infrastructure and development
along the low coastal lands and the reliance on the Nile delta for prime agricultural
land, coastal inundation or saline intrusion caused by anthropogenic climate change
induced sea-level rise will have a direct and critical impact on Egypt's entire
economy. Observations confirm that sea-levels are already rising in the Nile delta
due to a combination of factors including coastal subduction and reduced sediment
loads due to the construction of the High Aswan Dam upstream. Land subsidence
is currently estimated at 1-5 mm/year. The present coastal erosion and retreat of
the Delta, which are aggravated by human interventions such as reduced sediment
input, groundwater extraction, and hard engineering work in coastal strip. Protecting
coastal zone areas at risk from the affects of climate changes (see below) has
been internationally recognized, particularly in Agenda 21, Chapter 17 . The United
Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNCCC), has urged developed and
developing countries to work together to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate
change. Agenda 21, Chapter 40 , has also stressed the need for information for
decision making concerning environmental problems and sustainable development.

4.2 Problems Faced

The coastal zone of Egypt suffers from a number of serious problems, including
a high rate of population growth, land subsidence, excessive erosion rates, water
logging, salt water intrusion, soil salinization, land use interference, ecosystem pol-
lution and degradation, and lack of appropriate institutional management systems.
Egypt's coastal zones constitute particularly important regions from economic,
industrial, social and cultural points of view. In addition to increased tourism activ-
ities, a tremendous move towards building new industrial complexes is in progress
at this time. Realizing the importance of this zone, the Egyptian government has
already taken steps towards reducing the impact of these problems.
The coastal zones of Egypt extend for over 3,000 km in length along the
Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea coasts. The Mediterranean shoreline is most
vulnerable to sea level rise due to its relatively low elevation. The wetlands of the
Nile delta constitutes about 25 % of the total area of wetlands in the Mediterranean
region, and produce over 60 % of the fish catch of Egypt. The coastal zone of Egypt
is therefore particularly vulnerable to the impact of sea level rise in addition to
impacts on water resources, agricultural productivity and human settlements.