Greem Team
Working together for a greener Red Sea
Many conservationists and volunteers are seeing increased success and awareness
of environmental issues through working together to help protect and preserve the
environment. Chris Gooda reports on a series of projects supported by one highly active
Hurghada based green team: HEPCA.
HEPCA (Hurghada Environment Protection and Conservation Last year, in conjunction with IUCN (International Union for Conservation
Association) is well known for its conservation initiatives across the of Nature) and Kuoni Travel, scientists were tasked with researching the
entire Red Sea. Since its conception in 1992 the NGO has successfully consequences of climate change on coral reefs and to suggest practical
lobbied and initiated a huge range of projects both on and off shore measures to reduce its impact. Working with local tour operators HEPCA
including permanent moorings in Hurghada, Aqaba and Wadi Gamal; set out to undertake three tasks:
the protection of Sha’ab Samadai and Marsa Abu Dabab; the banning
of plastic bags in the Red Sea Governorate; the creation of 800 health
• Assess the vulnerability of the tourism industry to climate change
clinics at schools in underprivileged areas across Egypt, and helping to
• Train and empower local capacity to monitor and manage coral
stop power plant and oil rig projects being built that would have had a
reefs in the face of climate change
disastrous impact on the Red Sea ecosystem.
• Undertake an environmental education and public awareness
Following great success in the southern Red Sea, HEPCA has now secured
campaign addressing the impacts of anthropogenic activities on
the contract to manage solid waste in the Hadaba area of Hurghada.
marine habitats
HEPCA estimates that 9,000 tonnes of waste has accumulated in the
area and this will be cleared during the next month. Also, each building
In January this year the fi rst fi ndings from the project ‘Responding to
within the area will be provided with a waste bin which will be regularly
Climate Change in the Red Sea’ were published (available online at http://
emptied to stop the problem reccurring. Chris Jansen, a resident of
hepca.com/newsletter/jan2010/iucn-report.pdf). These were the result of
Hadaba, spotted workers outside his new villa. ‘I’d heard about the plans,’
detailed interviews with many dive tourists and operators in the Egyptian
says Jansen ‘but was amazed and delighted to see a huge team of people
Red Sea. Visitors placed signifi cant importance on environmental quality
with diggers and trucks clearing away years worth of waste that had
and sustainability of tour operators.
accumulated in front of my house.’
This research can help the Red Sea tourism industry to understand its
Alongside these highly visible projects HEPCA has been working hard
vulnerability to climate change and the importance that its customers
to secure funds and promote a variety of research initiatives since 2008.
place on environmental issues. Through early awareness and pro-active
Amr Ali, Managing Director of HEPCA, believes that tangible scientifi c
planning the tourism industry in the Red Sea can attempt to minimise its
results are key to conservation. These can provide valuable evidence to
impact and capitalise on any opportunities presented by climate change.
justify the creation of marine reserves and conservation areas in essential
The next phase of HEPCA’s scientifi c work involves two new initiatives
areas such as breeding grounds. They also provide opportunities to
initiated in conjunction with the Italian Egyptian Department for
confront ‘mercenary scientists’ employed by corporations to justify
Development Swap Program. The fi rst is the launching of “Red Sea
environmentally unsound projects.
22 www.cdws.travel
Issue 5 March - April ‘10
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