The Goods and Services Offered by Native Plants from Wadi Degla Protected Area, Northeastern Desert, Egypt, A Conservation Perspective.

Slima, Dalia F.; Shaltout, Kamal H.; Turki, Zaki A.; Alhobishi, Haifa A.

doi:10.21608/sjfsmu.2024.299744.1004

The Goods and Services Offered by Native Plants from Wadi Degla Protected Area, Northeastern Desert, Egypt, A Conservation Perspective.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University.

² Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.

³ Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Menoufia University, Menoufia, Egypt

⁴ Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Ibb University, Ibb, Yemen.

10.21608/sjfsmu.2024.299744.1004

Abstract

Wadi Degla Protected Area (WDPA) winds through the Eastern Desert's limestone rocks, some of which rise to a height of 50 meters. The goods and services provided by Wadi Degla's natural ecosystem are the main subject of this study. In Wadi Degla, field visits were made to 185 locations. Plant and seed specimens were gathered from every site. The goods, services, and threats of the recorded species were evaluated using data from field observations and interviews with locals and herbalists. A total of 150 species were identified, along with their functions in products and services. The identified threats that cover the gradual change in the study area were recorded. Identified species offered many goods such as medicinal (111species), grazing (89) and human food (42). Also, they provide environmental benefits such as sand accumulation and windbreaks which were the most common, followed by segetal weed (27 species) and esthetic concerns (24). During the field work, we recorded pressures and threats facing the natural vegetation along WDPA. Solid wastes were the most common threat (100 %), then habitat loss (98.2%), Over-collecting and over-cutting (87.6%) Urbanization and tourism (81.4%), Climatic changes and environmental conditions (80.2%), Mining and quarrying (51.6%), Disturbance by cars or trampling (49.7%), Browsing and overgrazing (31.1%) and Clearance for agriculture (13.1%). The authors suggested that Wadi Degla's natural flora be continuously monitored and conserved because the area is losing plant habitat and may see the extinction of these species, which provide various of benefits to the environment and humanity.

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