Elaboration of Ecological and Socio-Economic Studies of the Coastal and Marine Area of Ashtoum El Gamil Protected Area, Egypt

Mawael Environmental Consultancy conducted integrated ecological and socio-economic studies for the coastal and marine area of Ashtoum El Gamil Protected Area under the SEMPA Project implemented by UNEP/MAP-SPA/RAC with funding from the European Union. The ecological assessment applied an ecosystem-based approach to evaluate habitat diversity, hydrological connectivity between Lake Manzala and the Mediterranean Sea, biodiversity values, fisheries resources, avifauna, benthic communities, climate vulnerability, and cumulative environmental pressures affecting the protected area. The assignment included habitat mapping, biodiversity assessments, ecological interpretation, pressure and threat analyses, and the identification of conservation priorities supporting adaptive ecosystem management. In parallel, comprehensive socio-economic studies assessed fisheries livelihoods, stakeholder perceptions, governance arrangements, community participation, and natural resource dependence through field surveys and stakeholder interviews. The project developed practical recommendations for participatory protected area management, ecosystem conservation, and sustainable resource use while strengthening evidence-based management planning for one of Egypt’s most important Mediterranean wetland ecosystems.