Damietta Leads National Efforts: Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan Implementation Kicks Off
In a strategic move affirming its steadfast commitment to resilience in the face of climate change, and under the gracious patronage of His Excellency Professor Dr. Hani Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Damietta Governorate announced the official commencement of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan's implementation. This achievement marks the culmination of the governorate's outstanding efforts, as it has emerged as the pioneering Egyptian coastal governorate in applying this vital and highly crucial plan.
Professor Dr. Ayman El Shahaby, Governor of Damietta, received the working team of the "Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation in the Nile Delta and Northern Coast" project at his office. The delegation included Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Ali, the Project Executive Director, and Dr. Yousry El Koumy, Strategic Planning and Governance Expert for the project.
The meeting was attended by Major General Mohamed Hammam, Secretary-General of the Governorate, and Engineer Mohamed El Daly, Director of Environmental Affairs and the Project Coordinator in the Governorate. This meeting serves as a prelude to launching a comprehensive meeting with the local administration for integrated coastal zone management in Damietta, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the governorate's capacity to confront climate change challenges.
During the meeting, Dr. El Shahaby discussed the detailed steps for implementing the plan, emphasizing that Damietta's selection came after the Project Steering Committee announced the governorate's first-place win among coastal governorates. This was based on precise competitive criteria set by the committee to ensure the highest level of accuracy in implementation, considering all economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
His Excellency reviewed with the project team the core axes for the pilot implementation of the plan, which are based on building a comprehensive strategic plan for Damietta Governorate. This plan aims to precisely identify risks arising from sea-level rise and their consequent economic and social repercussions and losses. The meeting also included a presentation of the upcoming steps and a defined timeline, along with a clear distribution of roles and responsibilities.
In a related context, the project working team met with members of the local committee for integrated coastal zone management in Damietta. This meeting focused on studying and evaluating the most prominent risks facing coastal areas in Damietta, primarily floods, erosion risks, and sedimentation. The discussion also covered the risk of seawater intrusion into groundwater layers and its impact on the governorate's water and environmental resources.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to prepare and review the developmental and future plans for the coastal areas of each directorate within the governorate, in alignment with the draft Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan for the governorate, with the aim of developing and adopting the final vision for the plan.
In a graceful gesture and expression of the efforts exerted, the working team of the "Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation in the Nile Delta and Northern Coast" project commended Damietta Governorate's pivotal role in this vital file. To crown this continuous support, Professor Dr. Ayman El Shahaby, Governor of Damietta, Major General Mohamed Hammam, Secretary-General of the Governorate, and Engineer Mohamed El Daly, Director of Environmental Affairs and the Project Coordinator in the Governorate, were honored with commemorative shields. This tribute reflects the significant support provided by the governorate to achieve the project's objectives and underscores the governor's diligent efforts to implement effective climate change adaptation measures.
