Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad on Saturday 24/12/2022 took part in the first edition of Port Said International Festival for Bird Watching and Photography that was held in Ashtoum El Gamil reserve and the Manzala Lake with the participation of more than 200 photographers.

The festival, which is due to conclude on Sunday, is organized by the Ministry of Environment Ministry in cooperation with the Tourism Ministry, Port Said governorate, the Nature Conservation Egypt and the Egyptian Society of Wildlife Photographers.

Fouad said the festival aims to promote ecotourism in Port Said, especially the bird-watching tourism, which is very popular with nature lovers and photographers.

She added that Egypt was keen to raise the topic of migratory birds and biodiversity at the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference, COP27, as one of the issues that stress the importance of achieving balance between the Convention on Biological Diversity and the State's plan aimed at facing the effects of climate change and reducing emissions.

The environment minister stated that her ministry organized several training courses for those who are specialized in watching migratory birds, noting that tour operators placed the bird-watching point in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh on their itineraries.

Fouad expressed appreciation for the efforts of the civil society, tourism companies and youth to promote ecotourism, in addition to the protection of biodiversity and natural resources. 

MENA