Legislation

Law 102 of 1983 provides the legislative framework for establishing and managing protected areas in Egypt, which are defined as, "any area of land or coastal or inland water characterized by special flora, fauna and natural features having cultural, scientific, tourism or aesthetic value." Conservation of critical ecosystems and biodiversity is also mandated by regional and international conventions.

Egypt is signatory to eight international and regional conventions that have provisions for protected areas. These have, according to the constitution of Egypt, the same power as Egyptian law. The conventions require Egypt to establish and maintain a network of protected areas in order to protect and conserve ecosystems, representative habitats, threatened species, cultural heritage sites, and traditional knowledge which is of value to all mankind.

These eight international conventions are:

African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Algiers, 1968.

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat, Ramsar, 1971.

Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Paris, 1972.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), 1973.

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Bonn, 1979.

Protocol Concerning Mediterranean Specially Protected Areas, Geneva, 1982.

Convention on Biological Diversity, Rio de Janeiro, 1992.

Agreement on the Conservation of African-Euroasian Migratory Waterbirds, The Hague, 1995.