Egypt invites environment ministers to nature reserve conference

Egypt's Minister of State for Environment Mamdouh Riyad invited his counterparts, currently attending the world summit for sustainable development in Johannesburg, to attend the international natural reserve conference.

ÊÊÊ Egypt will host the conference, to be held at Sharm El Sheikh's Ras Mohamed nature reserve, on October 23-26.

ÊÊÊ Addressing members of the biological diversity committee, an offshoot of the Earth Summit, Riyad highlighted Egypt's policy in handling issues of desertification, increasing the green area, forests and means of protecting environment.

ÊÊÊ In statements to MENA, Riyad affirmed that Egypt has 23 nature reserves accounting for nine percent of Egypt's area.

ÊÊÊ As part of the new concept of sustainable development, Egypt is deemed to be one of the leading countries as far as environment protection and agricultural development were concerned, the minister said.

ÊÊÊ Egypt, via Johannesburg's proposed working plan, is supporting the setting up of a balanced partnership between developed and developing countries, he added.