Sacred Sina - Egyptian World Heritage Day celebrations

Al Ahram Weekly (Nevine El-Aref)

As well as announcing an injection of funding for the St Catherine's National Park(the Greek government had offered Egypt a grant of LE2 million to help restore St Catherine's Monastery and add up-to-date facilities for tourists.), this piece offers a fascinating look at the history of the management of the St Catherine's area.

In 2002 the site was described on the World Heritage List as "mixed property, cultural and natural", which means that the monastery and the area around it were on the list. The area encompasses almost some 601 sq km within the 5,750 sq km-area of the St Catherine's National Park. . . .

The first steps to conserve the natural and cultural features of South Sinai were taken back in 1996, when the St Catherine National Park was declared under the management of the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) and the commission of the European Union. The aim then was to conserve the area by laying down certain rules for visitors. These included respecting the sanctity of the land; protecting its large variety of flora and fauna (some unique to Sinai); and prohibiting the removal or interference with wild animals, plants or rocks. The aims were prudent, but they could not be fully implemented because controversy arose on the question of responsibility.

All natural reserves in Egypt, which differ in kind, are run by the EEAA, which has voiced concerns about the advisability of privatisation. However, some newspapers at that time called for privatisation, claiming that the government could not control all the reserves and that investors under the supervision of the EEAA were necessary.

Excavations will begin in the St Catherine's area in September, which Hawass says he hopes will reveal more about the history of Sinai.