Elba Protected Area is considered one of the largest nature reserves in Egypt due to its great diversity of natural resources, including plant life, wildlife, geological formations, and minerals. Given its importance, the role of researchers and environmental rangers is crucial in protecting these resources and mitigating the threats they may face. Among the activities necessary to protect the reserve, let's first understand the meaning of biodiversity and its paramount importance.
A Brief Overview of Biodiversity
The biodiversity, also known as biotic diversity, encompasses all forms of life on Earth, from bacteria and microbes to plants, animals, and humans. It also includes genetic diversity within each species and across different ecosystems such as forests, coral reefs, swamps, and oceans. Biodiversity is a dynamic, interconnected network where every living organism plays a vital role in sustaining life on Earth.
Why is biodiversity important, and why is it an integral part of nature reserves that must be protected?
Supporting Life
It provides food, water, clean air, and medicine, and contributes to climate stability and waste decomposition.
Economic Value
More than half of the world's GDP depends on nature, and industries such as agriculture and tourism benefit from biodiversity.
Resilience
Biodiversity-rich ecosystems are more resilient to natural and human-induced changes, such as climate change and natural disasters.
Cultural and Aesthetic Value
Living organisms play a role in cultural and spiritual heritage and contribute to recreational activities such as birdwatching and nature walks.
The Wildlife in Elba Protected Area
The wildlife in Elba Protected Area has a unique character compared to other wildlife areas in Egypt. The nature of the reserve, with its mountain ranges and the network of valleys that cut through it, has provided diverse habitats. Elba Protected Area boasts a unique biodiversity not found in any other region of Egypt, due to its unique geographical location and the phenomenon of the "fog oasis," which provides a fertile environment for wildlife.
1- The Endangered Mammals/Wild Animals
The reserve contains about 23 species of mammals, many of which are considered endangered, such as:
Nubian Ibex (Mountain Goat)
Inhabits rocky areas and rugged mountain highlands
Sheep
A rare species of wild sheep that is endangered
Egyptian Gazelle
Found in plains and valleys with vegetation cover
African Wild Donkey
A very rare subspecies that lives in open valleys
African Leopard
Environmental reports indicate its possible presence in deep mountain peaks
The other mammals that are not rare:
The Camels
Within the city of Shalateen, around areas where dead camels congregate, a diverse wildlife ecosystem is created, adding significant ecological importance to the Elba Protected Area, in addition to the site's natural beauty
The other animals found there include
the ibex
the gazelle
the hyrax
the African vulture
and the sand cat
2- The resident and migratory birds
The Gebel Elba Reserve is one of the most important bird sanctuaries in Egypt and the Middle East, where more than 173 bird species have been observed and documented within its boundaries. The reserve is unique in that it integrates with global migration routes (between Europe, Asia, and Africa) and is the only area in Egypt that reaches some migratory tropical African species.
The Egyptian Vulture
An endangered African vulture that makes the mountains of the reserve its home.
The Common Turtle Dove
A distinctive bird that breeds in the reserve's densely grazing valleys.
The seabirds and Shorebirds
The gulls and herons, such as the Common Gull, which is clearly visible along the coast from Marsa Alam to Halaib, and herons that feed amidst the mangroves.
The Common Swarm and the Common Eurasian Swarm
The seabirds that depend on the islands and coastal areas rich in fish within the reserve.
The birds of African Origin
Due to its geographical location and tropical climate, Gebel Elba is unique in providing habitat for African birds rarely seen elsewhere in Egypt, including the Abidim Stork, a migratory African bird whose presence is regularly recorded in the reserve.
The Prussian Green Pigeon
A bird associated with African forests and found in Fog forests at the top of the mountain
The Rare Birds of Prey and Eagles
The lappet-faced Vulture (Nubian Vulture)
Belongs to the Old World vultures, and Gebel Elba is one of its primary habitats.
The Egyptian Vulture
An endangered bird of prey, it finds excellent natural protection in the rugged mountain environment.
The Oscaris eagle and saker falcon
Rare birds distinguished by their exceptional speed and agility in hunting over the mountainous and open areas of the reserve.
The Bearded Vulture
Green Vulture
Sunset Falcon
Which breeds in the summer on the islands belonging to the reserve.
4 - The Reptiles
There are at least 40 types of reptiles, the most important of which are
5 - The Rare Plants
The valleys of the reserve are rich in a natural laboratory of rare herbs used in traditional folk medicine
The plants of the reserve are of great economic importance due to the enormous plant diversity contained in the mountains and valleys of the Eastern Desert, as well as the plant species themselves found in those areas, which grow on the mineral elements found in the mountains of the Eastern Desert. This is due to the fact that these mountains contain many minerals that nourish these plants, most of which are annual plants that depend on rainwater for their life cycle, while there are many perennial plants that can withstand harsh periods of drought in their growing areas. The importance is due to the enormous diversity of plants contained in the mountains and valleys of the reserve and the different plant environments in the region, which has created many plant species of economic importance. The Gebel Elba Reserve contains an enormous plant wealth of 350 species of plants and trees, and the benefits of these unique plants vary to include environmental, medicinal, and pastoral roles that support the local people and their daily lives.
Among them;
(Al-Shura) A - Mangrove Trees
The reserve contains two types of mangroves, covering large areas in ten locations. They grow densely along the reserve's coastal zone.
What are mangrove trees, and why are they of such far-reaching importance?
Is Egypt unique in having them, or are they found in only a few places worldwide? To learn more, please visit this link.
The Egyptian Flora
The region, with its mountain ranges, boasts approximately 350 plant species, representing 14% of Egypt's flora. Of these, 121 species are unique to the region and found nowhere else in Egypt.
Charcoal (Ushar)
For fiber
School lilac
For fiber
Bitter melon and aloe vera
For oil extraction
The Dragon Tree (Umbit)
This rare, endangered rock tree is found only in the reserve in Egypt. Its benefits include being nicknamed the "cloud catcher" because its sharp leaves collect fog and clouds, condensing them into water droplets. This water then irrigates the surrounding soil, creating a moist oasis that supports the growth of hundreds of herbs and other organisms.
Acacia Trees (Acacia, Sidr, and Gnosticum)
Perennial shrubs that form the natural forests of the reserve in the valleys. Their benefits: They are the main source of grazing for camels and cattle of the Ababda and Basharba tribes. Rare birds of prey, such as the Lappet-faced Vulture, nest in them. Their dry branches are used as natural fuel and firewood by the local population. They also act as natural breakwaters to protect the coast from erosion and as natural filters to purify water, in addition to providing an ideal environment for the growth of fish and medicinal crustaceans.
The Echinacea Plant
A vascular, rhizome-like plant that grows exclusively at high altitudes in the Elba Mountains. Its benefits: Traditional pharmaceutical preparations are extracted from it, and it has been used since ancient times to treat chronic coughs and chest ailments.
The Safra Plant
A natural herb of purely local origin within the reserve. Its benefits: Local people rely on it to treat some internal diseases and digestive problems, and some parts are used in natural leather dyeing.
The Annual and Perennial Herbs
Include dozens of species of wormwood, wild basil, and rue. Their benefits: They are used as antibiotics. Natural remedies for colic, colds, and scorpion and reptile bites common in mountainous environments, food plants for local populations, such as partridge, mountain tea, and sugar dates.
The general environmental benefits of vegetation cover
The soil stabilization
The deep roots of trees and plants prevent soil erosion during winter flash floods in valleys.
The sand trapping
Shrubs and grasses near the coast help to deflect dust-laden winds and trap sand, allowing for the formation of new, suitable soil layers.
7- The Coral Reefs
If you want to learn about the importance of coral reefs and why they are so vital to biodiversity, simply follow this link.
8- The Reptiles
The Green Sea Turtle
Lives on the sandy beaches of the reserve to lay its eggs
The Hawk-billed Sea Turtle
Found in the coral reef areas of the Red Sea
The Desert Turtule
Such as the horned viper (Salvia hissus), which is adapted to the arid environment
The Sea Turtles
Sea and desert turtles are of immense importance to the environment, biodiversity, and marine life in particular.
The ocean produces about
70% of the Earth's oxygen. As you surely know, the ocean is the lung of the planet, not the forests as we once thought. Forests are the second lung of the planet, while the first is the ocean. Regarding the green sea turtles that nest on the beaches and islands of the reserve, and given their crucial importance in this regard, we will dedicate a separate link to them, which you can view here.
8 - The Famous Fish in Gebel Elba Reserve
The vast Gebel Elba Reserve is home to more than 104 species of fish and marine organisms that live in the shallow waters, mangrove forests, and around pristine coral reefs. These fish and marine organisms are distributed according to their aquatic environments as follows:
The Names of Coral Reef Environments
These are colorful fish that take refuge and food in the virgin coral formations.
The Butterfly and Angel Fish
They are distinguished by their bright, striped colors and move gracefully among the coral crevices.
The Parrotfish (Haridae)
They play an important ecological role by munching on dead coral and cleaning the reefs.
The Clownfish (Nemo)
They live in a well-known symbiotic relationship with the sea anemones that are abundant there.
The Barracuda
They can be seen in fast-moving, silvery groups near the edges of the deep reefs.
The Large fish and predatory
The shrimp
The Sharks
Such as the grey reef shark and the whitetip reef shark.
The reserve provides a
The safe breeding environment for these species.
Grouper and tuna
Large bottom-dwelling fish of high economic and environmental importance in the Red Sea.
The Mullet and cigars
Local fish found in the reserve's bays and marinas, such as Shalateen and Abu Ramad.
And other marine animals besides fish
The reserve is a safe haven for the rare dugong (sea bride).
The threats to biodiversity in Gebel Elba Protected Area can be divided into:
1- The Internal Threats:
The hunting of wild animals, fishing, and the collection of marine organisms.
The Agriculture within the reserve, such as:
Charcoal production
Logging and timber collection
The Drought and climate change.
The Changes in land ownership and use within the reserve.
2- The External Threats:
The invasive species within the reserve
Hunting of wild animals.
To learn more about the meaning of invasive species and their direct threat to protected vegetation in nature reserves, please visit the following link.
3- The threats of expropriation: (quarrying and mining)
Gathering of wild plants and animals
Harvesting and collecting medicinal plants.
