Introduction to “Management and Development of Agricultural and Natural Resources in Egypt’s Deserts”

Abstract

Egypt is almost a desert area. It is divided into four major agro-ecological zones, three of which are in the desert. These zones include, North Coastal zone, the Eastern Desert and the Western Desert. Such areas have unique resource base features, major differences in each zone’s environmental characteristics including climatic characteristics, landscape and geomorphic characteristics, patterns of land use, and socio-economic characteristics. The agricultural resources in the Egyptian desert are investigated and their potentiality for development are evaluated. These resources include, (i) soil resources including soil types, soil minerals, soil microorganisms and soil pollution, (ii) plant diversity, (iii) weeds potentiality, (iv) food resources and, (v) animal resources.