The Nabq Protected Area (NPA) is a significant 600 km² (230 sq mi) nature reserve located along the Gulf of Aqaba in Egypt’s South Sinai Governorate. Initially, it was established under Prime Ministerial Decree No. 1511/1992 to conserve the region’s unique marine and terrestrial biodiversity. Then, the preserve’s boundaries were later expanded by Decree No. 33/1996. This crucial extension integrated the Dahab marine section into the reserve as the Dahab Environmentally Managed Area (DEMA). Through these progressive legal protections, the entire site was ultimately consolidated under the official designation of the Nabq Managed Resource Protected Area. It is commonly known in short as the NMRPA.
Location of Nabq National Park
The Nabq Protected Area or Nabq National Park is located roughly 35 kilometres to the north of Sharm El Sheikh in the South Sinai Governorate.
Management institutional framework
The Protected Area Management Unit (PAMU) of Nabq is one of the Sinai Protected Area Net Work affiliated with the Central Department of the Protected Areas in Egypt under the Nature Conservation Sector of EEAA. The PAMU is responsible for controlling, developing protection actions, and cooperating with stakeholders. It also enforces the environmental laws (law 102/1983 and 4/1994) and reports to the Sinai Regional PA Office in Sharm El Sheikh. This office, in turn, conveys reports to NCS/EEAA in Cairo.
Managed Resource Protected Area objectives
The protected area was managed as a Managed Resource Protected Area (MRPA) IUCN Category VI, managed mainly for sustainable use of the natural ecosystem. It is an area containing mostly unmodified natural systems worked to ensure long-term protection and maintenance of biological diversity. At the same time, it provides a sustainable flow of natural products and services to meet community needs.
Accordingly, the main proposed management objectives for NMRPA are:
- Maintaining the natural and cultural resources in good condition and conserving NPA biodiversity.
- To enhance the sustainable utilization of natural resources in the PA.
- To promote NPA as a focal point for ecotourism in the region and support socio-economic benefits to the local community.
- To increase public understanding and appreciation of NPA’s natural and cultural heritage.
Management issues, policies and actions
Twenty-five management issues have been identified. Management issues include problems that currently or potentially could degrade the values of NMRPA. They also include opportunities, such as the development of ecotourism and obligations for the Protected Area Management Unit (PAMU), such as visitor safety. For each management issue, approaches and specific actions are identified within a comprehensive framework. This framework reflects and reinforces the primary objectives of the PA.
Resources of NMRPA
NMRPA is characterized by a great diversity of habitats and ecosystems in a uniquely compact setting. It represents a complete terrestrial/marine ecosystem which describes the Gulf of Aqaba coast. The region has a fascinating natural beauty and outstanding biological diversity. The coral reefs are among the best and most diverse in the Egyptian Red Sea (208 species of hard coral). They are home to many fish (438 species) and marine invertebrates. Furthermore, they have enormous economic value, providing the basis for international tourism activities and sustaining local Bedouin fisheries.
NMRPA includes a significant stand of mangrove resources in Egypt. A mangle of the Avicennia marina extends for 4.5 kilometres in a semi-continuous fringe considered the extreme northern mangrove in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean system. It forms essential nurseries for economically important fish and nesting sites for many of the region’s water birds. In addition, substantial seagrass beds provide food for the threatened green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and dugong (Dugong dugon).
The interior of the PA is a complex pristine mountain wilderness inhabited by diversified wildlife, including several endangered species. It represents enormous attractions for ecotourism activities. Wadi El Keed watershed is one of the largest drainage basins to the Gulf of Aqaba on the Egyptian side. It is the best-vegetated wadi all over the Gulf. This area has the most extensive aggregation of the Arak Sand Dunes (Salvadora persica), representing unique vegetation.
There are more than 20 globally threatened species known in NMRPA. The most important species for which NMRPA can make an essential contribution towards their global conservation are marine turtles, sharks, dugongs, osprey (Pandion haliaetus), and white-eyed gull (Larus leucophthalmus), Dorcas gazelle (Gazella Dorcas), and Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana).
The area is inhabited by local peoples (Bedouins) belonging to the El Mezina Tribe. They still practice their traditional lifestyle harmoniously with their environment and mainly live on fishing, pasture and tourism. The area has an archaeological site at Wadi Saialet Dalal that the Bedouin made in the old times. Natural systems are still intact. No development occurred in the area, except for mining and quarrying for albite at Wadi El Samra and the old inactive copper mine, which may be activated shortly.