Saint Katherine Protectorate

It is normal for temperatures to reach 30 °C in summer midday with a moderate climate at night. Meanwhile, it is common for snow mountain peaks to be visible during winter with temperatures ranging between averages of 10–16 °C during midday. Winter temperatures normally drop below zero at night and reach –14 °C at the top of the mountains. Visitors are advised to wear appropriate warm clothing if they are climbing the touristic, historic Mount Sinai at night, particularly during winter.

1. The conservation of the contained mountain ecosystem of Southern Sinai including all its elements and processes and the conservation of the site’s traditional cultural and religious values.

2. To facilitate and strengthen the institutional capacity for Protectorate management and development in partnership with relevant institutions and local stakeholders.

3. The integration of the St Katherine Protectorate management and development planning into the network of protected areas forming the South Sinai Management Sector.

4. The integration of the protectorate into the local development process and land use management system in order to assist sustainable local rural development.

This arid, mountain ecosystem supports a surprising biodiversity and a high proportion of plant endemics. Its high-altitude ecosystem supports a surprising diversity of endangered wild flora and wildlife; some found nowhere else in the world. Around 472 plant species out of which 115 are of medicinal importance and 19 are endemic to Egypt. To date 27 mammal species have been recorded, 9 of which are bats. There are 46 reptile species, where 15 of which are found nowhere else in Egypt.

Medicinal plants, pastoral plants, wildlife, groundwater, granite, marble, and building materials, introduced fruitful trees such as palm trees, figs, olives, and almonds.

The protectorate is home to 7,000 Egyptian Bedouin citizens from six different tribes who play a very vital role in managing the protectorate with their invaluable traditional knowledge about the area and its natural characteristics. Around the monastery, you will find the Bedouins of the Gabalia tribe who have played a very important role in the building and protection of the monastery since they were brought from Macedonia for that particular purpose in the sixth century. Throughout the years the newcomers became Bedouins with very close relations with the monks which proved mutually beneficial for the two sides.

1. Law 102/1983

The main Protectorate legislative instrument, Law 102 sets out the principles for the declaration of natural protectorates and stipulates development restrictions and activities within and adjacent to the protectorate. The Law obliges the EEAA as the concerned administrative body to:

• Forbid actions leading to the destruction or deterioration of the natural environment, biota or which would detract from the aesthetic standards of the protectorate.
• Regulate scientific research
• Develop a management program for declared protected areas
• Increase public awareness
• Regulate recreational activities in protectorates to protect natural resources

2. Law 4/1994

Prohibits the hunting, possession, transport, and sale of those species of wild fauna (live or dead) determined by Executive Statues of same Law.

• Ministry of Environment Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency

28°33′N 33°58′E