Description of actual services provided by our staff within the assignment:
The MBDT project, funded by GEF and led by UNDP in collaboration with EEAA, aims to blend biodiversity conservation into Egypt’s tourism sector.
Environics, with EDG and Mawael, undertaked a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for Siwa Oasis and the North-Western Coast. This assessment targeted the impact of tourism on biodiversity, divided into two tasks: Siwa and the North-Western Coast.
The Inception Report submitted in February 2023 outlines the SEA’s methodology, scope, and data compiled, documenting a workshop held in December 2022.
The primary objective is to assess the environmental, social, and economic impacts of tourism plans and policies within these areas. This includes evaluating ongoing studies, previous projects, and future plans targeting these regions. The goal is to offer strategic information to guide national and local planning, potentially influencing existing guidelines related to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) in the tourism sector. Additionally, the SEA contributed to a scenario planning process designed to engage stakeholders and decision-makers.
Environics, alongside Environment & Development Group (EDG) and Mawael, led a consortium tasked with executing this assessment. Their role involved overseeing the SEA for Siwa and the North-Western Coast. They were responsible for defining the scope of work and terms of reference for subsequent phases of the SEA.
Environics engaged in reviewing existing tourism plans, conducting policy and legal assessments, identifying key issues, analyzing baseline data, and refining the list of relevant development plans. Their findings are integral to supporting strategic decision-making in Egypt’s tourism sector and aiding in the integration of biodiversity conservation measures.