Egypt's Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad held talks with Khaled Raslan and Mohamed Hossam, founders of the Marine Environment Protection Association, to explore cooperation on preserving and developing Egypt's marine ecosystems. The two sides agreed to draft a cooperation protocol focused on using advanced technologies to monitor illegal fishing, environmental violations, and encroachments through electronic surveillance systems. Fouad highlighted recent efforts to revitalise Egypt's nature reserves by improving infrastructure, administrative facilities, and visitor centres, alongside promoting eco-tourism and creating investment opportunities for the private sector within designated areas of the reserves. To address funding gaps in protecting natural resources, the minister noted the ministry's work with a national bank to establish a Nature Fund, which aims to support youth and private sector projects within protected areas, stressing the need for a supportive environment and adequate financing to grow eco-tourism. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
