MARSA ALAM, Egypt — Ras Hankorab is a stretch of Red Sea coastline in Egypt renowned for its pristine beaches, coral reefs, and nesting grounds for endangered green turtles. Located in the north of the Wadi El Gemal protected area, Ras Hankorab has become the site of a prolonged battle between local civil society organizations and the Egyptian government ever since the latter granted a private company the rights to develop tourism facilities here. Bulldozers appeared on the beach this February, sparking an outcry from civil society organizations and environmentalists. In March, civil society groups launched the “Save Ras Hankorab” campaign, protesting the development. They launched a petition that gathered more than 7,000 signatures. The action eventually resulted in a temporary halt to development activities and prompted the government to review plans for the site. That same month, the nonprofit Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) filed a formal complaint with the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Environment, and the Red Sea Governorate, pointing out that any construction activities and the use of heavy machinery in the area are in breach of Egypt’s protected area laws. Beach umbrellas recently put up at Ras Hankorab Beach. Image by Mongabay. “Wadi El Gemal is one of the most important national parks in Egypt. It’s still virgin, there are no interventions from investors there, there is no industry, it’s a clean area,” ECESR lawyer Malek Adly told Mongabay. Campaigners say that allowing a private company to develop Ras Hankorab and…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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