Author : Moataz Mahmoud Tolba

Protected areas in Egypt suffer from severe negligence in terms of sustainable development. One of the reasons is the absence of the role of the planner, designer and evaluator capable of evaluating protected lands, and convincing its residents and responsible organizations to draw up sustainable development plans, using the economic and environmental values of the land. They also lack any knowledge of the beautiful aspect and value of the land. This often leads to encroachment on the land and on important natural areas on the reservation. Consequently, it affects the environmental systems present through the loss of the natural resources that should be protected. Examples of this include the clear encroachment of touristic activities in Sharm el Sheikh on the lower border of the Nabaq Reserve, the presence of a large commercial mall in the city of Shalatin to trade with the Sudan, in the center of Elba Reserve, the exploitation of the Nile Islands Reserve with residents building on the land, in addition to the attempt by the Housing Ministry to sell parts of the Petrified Forest Reserve to residents. Thus, this research aims to examine the current status of lands surrounding the Petrified Forest Reserve to pinpoint the main reasons for negligence and the problems this area suffers from. In addition, this research aims to solve the problem of sustainability in the Petrified Forest Reserve to halt its deterioration.

Keywords: Land evaluation, sustainable development, protection from different kinds of pollution. protected Petrified Forest

Article published in International Journal of Current  Engineering  and Technology, Vol.4,No.2 (April- 2014)