"Manal Awad" Participate in a session "Promoting the 30 by 30 initiative in the West Asia region
Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of the Environment, participated in the session “Promoting the 30 by 30 initiative in the West Asia region and aligning regional action with the global biodiversity framework,” as part of her participation on behalf of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of the Republic at the World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, which is organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. (IUCN) from 9 to 15 October 2025, in the United Arab Emirates.
The session’s activities were opened by introducing the contributions and achievements of Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of the Environment, as the first woman to assume the Ministry of Local Development, the first woman to assume the position of Governor of Damietta in 2018, and the second woman She holds the position of Governor of Egypt’s History. She also won the Best Arab Governor award in the Arab Government Excellence Award, and holds a doctorate in medical sciences from Alexandria University. She also handled a number of files, including civil associations, slum development, development of the neediest villages, women’s affairs, literacy eradication, childhood and motherhood. She worked to strengthen cooperation with international organizations such as the European Union and the World Bank, and attract investments to serve citizens, in addition to developing… Strategies to adapt to climate change in Giza Governorate.
Dr. Manal Awad reviewed the mechanisms for integrating biodiversity protection into national climate and development strategies, especially in managing protected areas and protecting the marine environment in line with the third global goal. related to good health and well-being through preserving biodiversity, as she stressed that Egypt’s hosting of the COP27 climate conference contributed to placing biodiversity at the heart of the global dialogue, by confirming its commitment to addressing urgent issues for the continuation of life such as food security, water, and energy by launching projects in the fields of renewable energy, water resources management, and increasing food production in a sustainable manner, in addition to launching the national strategy for changes. Climate and the national contributions plan.
Dr. indicated. Manal Awad calls for integrating biodiversity protection through supporting nature-based solutions, such as ecosystem restoration, increasing investments in protected area management, and collaborating with the International Union for Conservation of Nature on initiatives such as "ENACT" Which links efforts to combat climate change with the protection of biodiversity, with the aim of enhancing sustainability and protecting natural resources, in addition to working to develop policies to increase the ability to adapt to climate change, with a focus on initiatives to protect marine life, and enhance the restoration of coastal systems such as mangroves.
Dr. Manal Awad confirmed that Egypt is working to improve the management of natural reserves through infrastructure development. Infrastructure, increasing funding, promoting ecotourism, with the involvement of local communities, focusing on protecting coral reefs and marine forests, given their importance to biodiversity and reducing the impacts of climate change on coastal areas, and enhancing investment in nature in line with biodiversity goals, to enhance resilience to climate change and reduce risks through effective management of systems. Environmental.
Dr. Manal Awad explained that Egypt is keen to strengthen regional cooperation to improve and mobilize resources and exchange knowledge to achieve the goal of declaring 30% protected lands by 2030, through investment in shared infrastructure, such as energy, transportation and communications networks, to enhance economic and regional integration, and encourage partnerships between the public sectors. Private and civil society, and involving local communities in development processes to protect natural and cultural heritage, by creating job opportunities that contribute to supporting the local economy and increasing awareness of the importance of the environment, in addition to developing training programs and exchanging experiences to support local capabilities.
Regarding Egypt’s strategies to enhance marine and terrestrial protection, the Minister confirmed that Egypt adopts an advanced vision. To manage its natural resources, it focuses on biodiversity, natural reserves and the blue economy at the national, regional and multilateral levels. It currently has 30 protected areas covering about 15% of its area, including areas declared by UNESCO as natural heritage areas, such as Wadi al-Hitan, which reflects its commitment to protecting natural heritage.
The Minister stressed that Egypt is keen to have its reserves join the Green List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and to re-evaluate areas of importance for biodiversity and develop evaluation criteria, with the aim of expanding protection areas and ensuring the sustainability of natural resources, in order to enhance the protection of biodiversity, in addition to updating the National Biodiversity Strategy 2030, in cooperation with partners and national experts, in preparation for its announcement with By the end of 2025, to enhance its efforts to preserve biodiversity and utilize it within the framework of sustainable development.
Dr. Ayman Suleiman, Jordanian Minister of Environment, Dr. Nizar Hani, Lebanese Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Hani Al-Shaer, Regional Director of the West Asia Office of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, engineer Natalia Boulad, participated in the session. Director of the Biodiversity and Protected Areas Program at the IUCN Regional Office, Dr. Muhammad Qurban from the National Wildlife Center, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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