Egypt working on granting rights to private companies to run nature reserves

Egypt working on granting rights to private companies to run nature reserves: Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad is pushing for the expedition of a long-stalled draft legislation to grant administration rights to private companies to run nature reserves under the ministry’s supervision, Al Monitor reports. The legislation had stirred controversy amid concerns it would violate a 1983 law that prohibits the privatization of nature reserves. A well-informed ministry source assured Al Monitor, however, that the legislation would not allow the state to sell nature reserves, but instead give private firms the right to run and protect them. Under the legislation, companies granted rights would suffer heavy penalties for damages to the reserves, which make up 17% of Omm El Donia.