Prime Minister Dr. Mustafa Madbouli inspected several greening and tree-planting projects across Cairo on Sunday. The prime minister was accompanied by Minister of Local Development and Environment Dr. Manal Awad and Cairo Governor Dr. Ibrahim Saber. The tour came after a meeting held to review the implementation of the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi regarding the “Greening Greater Cairo” initiative.
The prime minister said that ongoing efforts are underway following the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to adopt an integrated nationwide greening initiative across Egypt’s governorates. The initiative aims to utilize vacant and underused land and open spaces by transforming them into parks and green spaces. This will contribute to enhancing the urban environment and improving the visual appearance of cities.
Dr. Madbouli said, “We are closely monitoring the execution mechanisms for expanding tree cover and green spaces along major roads and traffic corridors, in traffic islands, and at the entrances to administrative centers and cities across the governorates, in a manner that increases per capita green space and enhances quality of life.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Local Development and Environment said the ministry continues to support governorates’ efforts to implement the directives of the political leadership and the Prime Minister’s instructions to expand tree-planting initiatives and increase green spaces. The minister added that existing trees must be preserved along with upgrading open spaces, traffic islands, traffic corridors, and roads in line with the state’s vision for improving the urban environment.
The Prime Minister’s tour included an inspection of tree planting under Ibrahim El-Orabi Bridge (formerly the Tenth Bridge) in Cairo. He then headed, accompanied by officials, to the Athar El-Nabi Bridge area to review the progress of landscaping and tree-planting being carried out in accordance with the governorate’s execution plan. He subsequently visited the area under the Civilizations Axis to review greening efforts there as well. He also stressed the need to continue implementing this environmental project across all other governorates.
During his inspection tour, the Prime Minister received a detailed briefing from Dr. Ibrahim Saber on Cairo Governorate’s execution plan for implementing President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s directives to greening Cairo.
Madbouli said that the plan is based on a collaborative approach involving three key stakeholders. The first comprises the governorate's executive bodies representing the state, including Cairo’s General Authority for Cleanliness and Beautification. The second consists of environmental NGOs and civil society organizations, including banks and political parties. The third stakeholder group comprises citizens themselves, as well as shop owners and students at schools and universities.
Governor Saber added that the plan proceeds on two parallel tracks: raising awareness of the importance of tree planting, preserving, and boosting tree planting along thoroughfares, streets, and sites suitable for planting.
Governor Saber added that the greening of Cairo’s plan will be implemented scientifically, backed by a specialized consultancy to select species adapted to Egypt’s climate, focusing on shade‑providing, low‑water‑consumption trees.
Moreover, the selection of trees and plants was based on the following clear criteria. These criteria include rapid growth, the provision of adequate shade, resilience to climatic conditions, and compatibility with sustainable irrigation methods, thereby ensuring the preservation of planted areas and the rational use of water resources. The selected species include acacia, neem, khaya, camel’s foot tree (Bauhinia), poinciana, golden shower tree (Cassia fistula), and jacaranda.
In this context, Saber stated that the implementation of the plan developed by the consulting office is already underway. More than 3,000 trees and nearly 700,000 shrubs and plants have been planted along several major roads, traffic corridors, and vacant plots of land.
Saber added that the governorate aims to plant one million plants within a year, including 60,000 trees, with no fewer than 1,500 trees in each district, depending on its size and the availability of suitable planting areas. The target also includes 800,000 plants and shrubs.
Furthermore, each district will be assigned a unique planting scheme based on the selection of plant species that best suit its characteristics.
Concluding his tour, Madbouli said it is important to involve all segments of society in protecting and preserving trees, describing this as a shared responsibility between executive bodies and citizens. He stressed the need to continue implementing this major environmental project and to expand it across the various areas of the Greater Cairo Region.
Source: Media Department, Cairo governorate
