Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad on Sunday chaired the 66th meeting Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency’s (EEAA) board that discussed several key environmental topics, that highlighted co-operation with the private sector in ecotourism.
The discussions aimed to enhance environmental efforts in Egypt, and preserving and sustaining natural resources.
Attendee included EEAA’s CEO Ali Abu Seneh, board members, experts, and representatives of concerned authorities and ministries.
As the meeting started, Minister Fouad voiced gratitude to all board members, and heads, both former and present, lauding the seven years which she chaired the EEAA as chairperson, and referring to the tireless efforts exerted over this period to develop the environmental sector in Egypt.
EEAA’s Chief Abu Seneh reviewed the recommendations and decisions issued by the board over the previous session, No65, on several decisions related to natural reserves and the preservation of natural resources.
Minister Fouad discussed a number of issues related to the 66th meeting, pertaining to updating the formula adopted to estimate the value of environmental compensation for damage to the environment resulting from the pollution of the water environment with petroleum substances, in accordance with the recommendations of the Higher Committee for Environmental Compensations.
Over the past period, the ministry has worked hard to take advantage of natural reserves and offer them to investors to provide various tourism activities that suit the nature of the reserves and enjoy the picturesque nature, the minister said.
This has been conducted in co-operation with the private sector to support ecotourism in the reserves, she added.
Fouad referred to the state efforts to back investment in co-operation with the private sector and benefit from regional and global experiences in this regard, while ensuring that implementing companies comply with all environmental standards and requirements within the natural reserves.
On carbon certificates and the calculation of reduction rates, Minister Fouad stressed the need for the EEAA to organise training courses to raise national capacities in this field, pointing out the need to tighten control over the bodies that have the right to grant carbon footprint certificates.
