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Environmental Policy Support Unit - n/a Environment: Forestry, Energy & Environmental Services Egypt 1999 - 2002 USAID |
Providing Expertise in Marine and Coastal Environments
RATIONALEThe Red Sea coral reefs, islands, and linked ecosystems are a tremendous natural asset and tourist attraction for Egypt. This environment is facing pressure from encroaching coastal developments. Recognizing the unique opportunity, Winrock has been engaged in coastal resources activities in Egypt from the start of 1996 when we launched the pilot Environmentally Sustainable Tourism project for USAID. From that time, we have worked with governmental and non-governmental organizations and the private sector supporting approaches that protect natural resources and improve long-term prospects for the tourism industry that depends on the health of the coastal ecosystems.
OBJECTIVES
The EPIQ Program Support Unit (PSU) was established to provide environmental policy and institutional strengthening assistance to the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA). Winrock is the primary source for coastal and marine resources expertise for this effort. Our activities support USAID/Egypt's objective to provide protection for the Egyptian Red Sea marine and coastal environments.
ACTIVITIES
The present Winrock activities support the management of the extensive marine environments designated for the Greater Egyptian Red Sea Marine Park. We provide technical expertise in marine sciences and support ranger operations and other operational functions, such as mooring buoy maintenance. Working in close cooperation with the stakeholders, we are the facilitator for the development of the marine zoning plan. All our activities aim at environmentally and economically sustainable use of the Red Sea.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Winrock's participation in the predecessor projects helped establish the operational presence of EEAA on the Red Sea coast. The present project has increased the capacity of these operations and aims at a lasting change towards sustainability through its contribution to the management systems of the emerging marine park. The present activity is contracted through USAID's Environmental Policy IQC (EPIQ). International Resources Group (IRG) is the EPIQ prime contractor.