Disappearing Shorelines: The Nile Delta, Egypt
Sediment fluxes in the Nile river system have been drastically modified by human impact through the last century, until now almost no sediments reach the delta region. Consequently, the Nile River Delta suffers severe erosion along its northern coast due to wave action, currents, and other coastal processes. This erosion has been exacerbated since the construction of the Aswan high dam in 1964 where the Nile River’s sediments became trapped within the artificial reservoirs. Subsidence (accelerating to ~6.6 mm/year in the northern delta (El-Raey, 2010)) and SLR, saltwater intrusion, urban expansion, and environmental pollution are the main challenges facing the Nile River Delta. Meanwhile urban encroachment on fertile and highly productive soils (increased from 452 km2 in 1972 to over 2600 km2 in 2017 (Abd-Elmabod et al., 2019)) may threaten Egypt’s agriculture sustainability and food security.
Despite these challenges, the community is innovating to protect both land and culture. In addition to traditional adaptation strategies, new and novel technologies were employed under the Egyptian government’s Strategy and Future Vision for Coastal Adaptation to SLR. Recent experimental projects to protect the Nile Delta using artificial sand dunes construction with inner geotextile sand tubes and natural mats which trap sand show positive results (Sharaan et al., 2022). This has the effect of conserving hinterland agricultural areas from further deterioration and encourages coastal development and investment.
What would a UN Convention on River Deltas do?
1) Identify and mobilize resources for shoreline restoration and erosion-response mechanisms on such vulnerable, densely populated delta systems; 2) help to raise awareness on unique threats such as coastal erosion and environmental pollution; 3) establish robust monitoring and reporting systems on hazard, vulnerability and risk, and allow better tracking on delta degradation, and environmental and societal trends.
Contributed by: Alaa Salem, Kafrelsheikh University, Egypt
