Egypt has reaffirmed the importance of protecting migratory birds as the country marked World Migratory Bird Day, holding activities under the slogan “Every bird counts... your observation matters” to raise environmental awareness.
Minister of Local Development and Environment Manal Awad said Egypt represents one of the world’s most important migration corridors due to its strategic geographic location linking Europe and Africa.
Millions of birds pass through the country annually during seasonal migration periods, she stated.
According to Awad, Egypt’s coastal areas and wetlands serve as vital resting and feeding stations for migratory birds. So, she stressed the importance of nature reserves in protecting these habitats and supporting biodiversity conservation.
She also highlighted several key sites for migratory birds, including the Zaranik, Ashtoum El-Gamil, and Burullus reserves along the Mediterranean coast, in addition to Ras Mohammed and the northern Red Sea islands.
Awad pointed to the winter migratory bird census project, implemented in cooperation with the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) and the Nature Conservation Egypt association, which provides scientific data on bird populations and species diversity.
The ministry said its conservation efforts include issuing annual hunting regulations and conducting campaigns to remove illegal bird-catching nets from protected areas.
Approximately 18 kilometers of illegal nets have been removed from the Ashtoum El-Gamil and Burullus reserves.
