Under the Patronage of the Minister of Irrigation and the Governor of Damietta: Inauguration of the "Coastal Recovery Walkway" in New Damietta as a Pioneering Model for Nature-Based Coastal Protection

New Damietta, Egypt – Under the auspices of H.E. Professor Dr. Hani Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, and H.E. Major General Ayman Al-Shihabi, Governor of Damietta, New Damietta City witnessed today the official inauguration of the "Coastal Recovery Walkway." This project stands as Egypt’s first model to integrate coastal protection infrastructure with sustainable aesthetic and environmental enhancement.

The walkway was inaugurated by Major General Dr. Tariq Behairi, Assistant Secretary-General of Damietta Governorate, in the presence of distinguished leaders and experts, including: Eng. Assem Al-Laban, Deputy Head of the New Damietta City Authority; Eng. Mohamed Hassan Ghattas, Chairman of the Egyptian General Authority for Shore Protection (EGASP); Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Ali, Executive Director of the "Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation" project; Dr. Mohamed Bayoumi, Assistant Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Dr. Nabil El-Hady, Professor of Architecture at Cairo University and Landscape Consultant; and Eng. Abdel Razek Mohamed, Project Engineer.

Transforming Protection into a "Living Masterpiece"

This project is a key milestone of the project titled "Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation in the North Coast and Nile Delta Regions in Egypt." It is implemented through a partnership between the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and the UNDP, executed by EGASP, and funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The initiative successfully transformed traditional, "dead" coastal protection structures into a sustainable "living masterpiece" spanning 8 acres and extending 600 meters along the New Damietta coastline.

The "Recovery Walkway" Philosophy

Attendees noted that the name "Recovery Walkway"—proposed by Dr. Nabil El-Hady—reflects the design’s core philosophy. It was crafted to provide psychological well-being and a modern recreational space for both tourists and local residents, featuring eco-friendly seating and solar-powered lighting. The project addresses climate challenges through:

Inundation Protection: Securing the area against sea-level rise (SLR).

Biodiversity Restoration: Planting 20 types of indigenous aromatic and medicinal plants, selected after 24 months of rigorous trials to ensure resilience in harsh saline environments.

Empowering Local Management

During the ceremony, the "Sustainable Model Manual" was officially handed over to the New Damietta City Authority. Developed by the project’s technical team, this manual empowers the authority to replicate this pioneering model in future protection works, ensuring the long-term preservation of the area’s urban and environmental standards.

The event concluded with a field tour of the walkway. Participants praised the fruitful cooperation between the Ministry of Irrigation, Damietta Governorate, and international organizations, which has resulted in a tangible solution rooted in community needs while safeguarding the future of Egypt's coastlines.