A MIDA case study on Wadi El Rayan in Egypt, a manmade desert wetland that now sustains biodiversity and local livelihoods under Ramsar and World Heritage (Whale Valley) designations.
Description
In 1973 excess agricultural drainage was diverted into a barren depression southwest of Fayoum, creating two vast artificial lakes and extensive wetlands in the heart of Egypt's arid desert. Around 164 bird species, 24 mammals, 14 reptiles, 38 plants and 29 types of fish have been recorded, including the near-threatened ferruginous duck and pallid harrier, while slender-horned gazelle roam the desert edges. Natural springs framed by limestone cliffs and sweeping dunes, together with the Wadi El Rayan Waterfalls, the largest in Egypt, draw visitors, while rising fish catches, agriculture and nature-based tourism support the livelihoods of the 12,000 people who live here. First made a protected area in 1989, the wetland was designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 2012, following the 2005 inscription of the overlapping Wadi Al-Hitan (Whale Valley) World Heritage Site, which preserves remains of ancient whales evolving from land mammals into marine creatures. Tourism is confined to designated zones, and vehicles and visitor routes at Whale Valley are strictly controlled.
