By Tariq Abdalla
Every year more than 1.5 million migratory birds fly over Egypt in their migration journeys. The nation is distinctively situated along the Rift Valley/Red Sea Flyway -among the most crucial paths of the Africa-Eurasia Flyway system- with birds moving from wintering premises in Africa to breeding premises in Europe and Central Asia and vice versa. In overall, 37 types of skyrocketing birds (raptors, storks, pelicans and some ibis), 5 of which are internationally threatened, routinely utilize the flyway.
As they transverse continents, migratory birds count on water and environments consisting of wetlands for migration, breeding and wintering. Although called the Gift of the Nile, Egypt remains in truth a hyper-arid nation that has actually restricted locations of wetlands. These wetlands host a variety of migratory bird types in the nation consisting of the Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), White Stork (Ciconia ciconia), Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) and various types of egrets and waders. However, these wetlands are progressively threatened by different aspects consisting of a growing population, land improvement, and environment modification to name a few.
Since 2005, Nature Conservation Egypt (NCE), BirdLife Partner in Egypt has actually been associated with securing migratory bird types in the nation. Through specialized clinical research study, advocacy, education and outreach, NCE supports types, their environments, and regional neighborhoods. In January 2021, NCE started carrying out a nationwide scale research study to examine the capacity of Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) in supporting resident and migratory wildlife, particularly birds, in addition to operating as carbon sink pails in the Sahara.
“In arid landscapes, wastewater treatment sites seem to provide very valuable and suitable habitats for migratory birds. In Egypt, more than 100 million people compete with wildlife over the very limited wetlands. However, wastewater sites stand as undesirable wetlands by humans but very attractive to birds”, said Khaled Elnoby, NCE’s Executive Director.
Through this research study, NCE has actually figured out that WTPs support a fantastic variety and abundance of bird types consisting of homeowners and migratory birds. Further, they have a high capacity to serve as wetlands, and by doing so, alleviate the results of environment modification by taking in carbon from the environment.
“Since the 1970s, the world has lost 35% of its wetlands. Despite the critical role they play to human and planet life, wetlands are disappearing faster than forests. This ground-breaking study by Nature Conservation Egypt is thus timely, and its findings have the potential to immensely benefit nature and people”, said Dr Kariuki Ndang’ang’a , Regional Director for Africa, BirdLife International.
In addition, the well handled WTPs can be utilized as leisure locations and public areas for Egyptians. Currently, NCE is engaging with different authorities in the nation, to promote the worth of these websites for birds and wildlife. “NCE looks forward to seeing more integrated management approaches for waste water treatment sites in Egypt”, concluded Elnoby.
