Egypt’s first Festival of Nature Local Cultures at Wadi Degla Protected Area in Cairo- Egypt Today/Samar Samir
CAIRO - 25 August 2019: Amid a high turnout of tourists, and local residents from different governorates, Egypt’s first Festival of Nature Local Cultures at Wadi Degla Protected Area in Cairo came to an end on Saturday. Aug. 24.
The three-day festival aimed at promoting ecotourism and nature reserves, showing folklore products, arts and diversified Egyptian cuisines from Sinai, St. Catherine, Red Sea, Fayoum, Siwa, Halaib, Shalateen and Nubia.
Egypt’s first Festival of Nature Local Cultures at Wadi Degla Protected Area in Cairo- Egypt Today/Samar Samir
Organized by the Ministry of Environment, the festival witnessed the attendance of environmental experts, NGOs representatives, academic students and representatives of the African university.
“The local communities play a vital role in preserving national reserves. In 2018, the ministry conducted a survey on the local communities and provided them with all the training and teachings required [for this regard],” Minister of Environment Yassmine Fouad told reporters on the sidelines of the festival on Saturday.
A little girl participates in Egypt’s first Festival of Nature Local Cultures at Wadi Degla Protected Area in Cairo- Egypt Today/Samar Samir
The local residents were taught how to use the natural resources of the protectorates to increase their income without harming the environment, she said, quoting the latest data of the Egyptian annual income issued by the state-owned Center Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMS) as the income rates for the local community in Wadi al-Jimal protectorate and Fayoun governorate increased by 160 percent and 146 percent respectively in 2018 compared to the previous year.
Egypt’s first Festival of Nature Local Cultures at Wadi Degla Protected Area in Cairo- Egypt Today/Samar Samir
“Our band is participating in the festival, which is being held for the first time. We came here to show the people the Nubian culture, habits and norms,” Maya Gohar from Nubanour band told Egypt Today.
Meanwhile, Aida Ali from Halayeb and Shalatin told Egypt Today that she has been invited by the Ministry of Environment to exhibit her hand-made products in the festival. “ I am so impressed and happy,” Ali said.
Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad watches Madfouna, a dish from Sinai cuisine at Egypt’s first Festival of Nature Local Cultures at Wadi Degla Protected Area in Cairo- Egypt Today/Samar Samir
The minister made a tour in the festival, praising the participants, saying “In the height of Egypt’s presidency of the Biodiversity Conference, Egypt is sending, through the festival, a message to the whole world that its cultural heritage is reflected by the local people in various reserves.”
Egypt’s first Festival of Nature Local Cultures at Wadi Degla Protected Area in Cairo- Egypt Today/Samar Samir
The 60-kilometer-square Wadi Degla area was announced a national protectorate in 1999, according to the Ministry of Environment data.
In case you missed it …
CAIRO - 7 September 2017: Even though Wadi Degla Protectorate is minutes from Maadi, as soon as you step inside it, you will feel as if you have been transported to the heart of nature, where the air is fresh and the scenery is breathtaking.
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