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Abstract
The present study Characterized one of the most important wetland site located in Wadi El-
Rayan, in the western desert, one of the Egypt’s twenty seven protected areas. The present
study described the main community of Wadi El-Rayan (assessed in twenty sites) dominated
by Phragmites australis and figures out the seasonal productivity (assessed in twenty eight
stands in 14 sites) represented in phytomass (kg dry weight/m2) of wetland vegetation. Five
habitat types were recorded in Wadi El-Rayan area, which are reed swamps, salt marshes,
sand formations, gravel and neomulitic desert and aquatic habitats. Xerophytes, halophytes
and hyDROPhytes are forming the main bulk of Wadi El-Rayan vegetation. A total of 56 species
belonging to 26 families were recorded. Compositae and Gramineae are the highly
represented families, however therophytes and geophytes are the main life forms. Statistical
Multivariate Analysis of the waterward vegetation (WW) and landward vegetation (LW) of
the wetland areas clarified 5 different levels of productivity for each. The highly productive
sites were those located around the Upper Lake, the Connecting Channel and the 4th spring,
whereas the low productive sites were those around the Lower Lake and the 1st spring for
both of the water and land wards vegetation. Some significant correlations were detected
between the first two ordination axes. However, no significant correlations between axes I
and II and the different soil variables. Three sites around the Upper Lake and Lower Lake
were selected to monitor the effect of fire during the study period. Single effect of fire and
the combined effect of both fire and grazing in the same area were realized. The
environmental management section of this study listed the main values of Wadi El-Rayan
Protected Area and their affecting threats according to the latest management effectiveness
evaluation. Amendment of WRPA management plan is proposed in terms of 2 main issues:
1) Restoration of water balance of Wadi El-Rayan lakes and 2) Conservation of Wadi El-Ryan
wetlands (grazing and firing issues). Both of the 2 main issues has its proposed objectives
and strategies & actions. Seven objectives and seven strategies & actions were proposed for
the first issue, while three objectives and five strategies & actions were proposed for the
second issue. A map was introduced for the potential grazing strips in Wadi El-Rayan
wetlands.