Rural Regeneration in Egypt: A Review of Existing Typologies in Borderline Areas

Tracking rural areas and studying them may not be an easy task. The concept of whether the area at hand is urban or rural could be simple, but lately rural areas could carry many features that may deviate the definition into one which is unclear. In urbanized rural development, reversing the urbanization spotted may not be the ideal way to go, urban developers often suggest that to go back to the roots is to regenerate the area back into rural, however, regenerating rural areas using rural parameters and definitions may not be what the urban area in hand needs and the changes and challenges that are facing rural communities in Egypt need to be understood before any plan can be deemed as effective or even worthwhile The rapid increase in urbanization and how it affects agriculture land, shorelines, and rural land, has affected badly the rural capacity, and led to a constant threat of overhaul in place of towns, cities, and other urban activities. However, rural areas are the lungs of the planet alongside forests and other green areas and having them diminish substantially will lead to an inevitable catastrophe. Regenerating rural areas should focus on revitalizing and embedding them into the social, cultural, and economic structure of the region, however, it may not always involve turning them back to what is commonly termed as rural.This research attempts to review and discuss the meaning and definitions of rural regeneration with a view to propose a strategic plan to regenerate borderline areas in Egypt.

Comprehensive Assessment and Potential Ecological Risk of Trace Element Pollution (As, Ni, Co and Cr) in Aquatic Environmental Samples from an Industrialized Area

A global assessment of arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) was performed in environmental samples from an important industrial bay. Different fractions of water, sediments and tissues from four species of fish were analysed. Samples were collected from selected sampling sites during four consecutive samplings in spring and autumn seasons, in order to evaluate concentrations and their possible correlations among the aquatic compartments. While a higher availability of Cr and Ni was found in water, Co and As were the most available elements in sediments. In fish, the liver was the tissue with the highest proportion of As and Co, and gills showed the highest concentrations of Ni and Cr. Significance differences were observed among sites showing the pollution sources. In sediments, high correlations were found between total Co content and the most available fractions. Total Ni content highly correlated with the oxidisable fraction, while Cr total content tightly correlated with the least available fractions. Quality guideline values for sediments were frequently exceeded. In sediments and biota, concentrations were slightly higher than in other ecosystems, indicating that maritime, industrial and urban activities are affecting this type of ecosystem with great anthropogenic influence.

Levels, Distribution And Risk Assessment of Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) In Fish In Xiamen, China

In this study, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) was detected in 114 fish samples collected from 6 administrative regions of Xiamen city, China. HBCD amounts ranged between ND (not detected) and 2.216 ng g−1 ww (mean, 0.127±0.318 ng g−1 ww). Besides, α-HBCD was the main diastereoisomer in these fish specimens, followed by β-HBCD. Meanwhile, γ-HBCD was not detected in any of the samples. Significant differences were recorded among fish species. The results indicated that the levels and detection rates of HBCD were higher in Trachinotus ovatus compared with other aquatic organisms. Therefore, Trachinotus ovatus could be used as a marine biological indicator of HBCD. Within the regions investigated, Siming was significantly different from Jimei, Haicang and Xiang'an. The spatial distribution of HBCD concentrations indicated higher mean levels in samples collected from Haicang, Jimei and Xiang'an, respectively, with the highest detection rates in Jimei and Xiang'an, which might be related to geographical location and intense industrial and urban activities. Estimation of daily HBCD intake was performed according to fish consumption in Xiamen residents. The medium bound HBCD amounts in fish were approximately 0.073 and 0.088 ng kg bw-1d-1 for male and female residents of Xiamen, respectively. Exposure doses of HBCD indicated no health concern for Xiamen residents.

Surface and Ground Water Pollution: Causes and Effects of Urbanization and Industrialization in South Asia

Water pollution in South Asia is an alarming issue that has immersed recently. Developing countries, particularly those in South Asia, are fast adopting industrial pollution control standards similar to those in developed countries. So both surface and groundwater are already scarce however, individuals and industries continue to pollute the already limited supply of water. On the other hand, the pollution of rivers is more severe and critical near urban stretches due to huge amounts of pollution load discharged by urban activities. Unplanned urbanization and industrialization occurring in these countries like Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka, etc. may be largely responsible for this grave situation. Therefore these human activities including industrialization and urbanization contributed immensely in no small measure to the degradation and pollution of the environment which adversely has an effect on the water resources such as surface and groundwater that is a necessity for life. This paper tries to discuss basically the causes and effects of urbanization and industrialization in surface and groundwater pollution and equally to address the controlling issues and challenges in South Asia.

Assessing the relative importance of human and spatial pressures on non-native plant establishment in urban forests using citizen science

Since 2007, more people in the world live in urban than in rural areas. The development of urban areas has encroached into natural forest ecosystems, consequently increasing the ecological importance of parks and fragmented forest remnants. However, a major concern is that urban activities have rendered urban forests susceptible to non-native species incursions, making them central entry sites where non-native plant species can establish and spread. We have little understanding of what urban factors contribute to this process. Here we use data collected by citizen scientists to determine the differential impacts of spatial and urban factors on non-native plant introductions in urban forests. Using a model city, we mapped 18 urban forests within city limits, and identified all the native and non-native plants present at those sites. We then determined the relative contribution of spatial and socioeconomic variables on the richness and composition of native and non-native plant communities. We found that socioeconomic factors rather than spatial factors (e.g., urban forest area) were important modulators of overall or non-native species richness. Non-native species richness in urban forest fragments was primarily affected by residential layout, recent construction events, and nearby roads. This demonstrates that the proliferation of non-native species is inherent to urban activities and we propose that future studies replicate our approach in different cities to broaden our understanding of the spatial and social factors that modulate invasive species movement starting in urban areas.

TYPOLOGICAL FEATURES AND PROBLEMS OF PRESERVING URBAN DEFENSE COMPLEXES OF PRIVATE CITIES OF THE PRINCES OF ZBARAZH IN PODILLIA, KYIV REGION AND VOLHYN IN THE XVI-XVII CENTURIES

The authors of the article focus on the urban activities of the princes of Zbarazh of the senior branch. Special attention is paid to cities whose location and fortification are directly associated with representatives of the princely family. An attempt is made to find the principle that guided the Princes when choosing the city and choosing the method of fortifications. A representative sample of cities is formed, which clearly shows the dependence of the natural location, chronological boundaries of the location and the type of fortifications, based on which three types of fortified cities of Zbarazh are distinguished. In the second part of the article, the authors analyze the state of preservation of cities and give recommendations for preserving the remnants of urban defence complexes.

The Segregation in Access to Spaces for Urban Activities during COVID-19 Pandemic in Relation to Gated Communities in Egypt

Despite the long history of physical and social segregation by various types of gated communities in Egypt, they are attracting more residents. This is a result of the sense of privacy, security, access to proper services and the quality of green areas and public spaces that they offer. In most cases, such privileges and spaces for urban activities have restricted access to users who do not own residential units in such gated communities. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, starting in early 2020, and the Egyptian government’s preventive measures, people’s daily lives have been affected both economically and socially. Regulations such as the application of a curfew, and the closure of public services and facilities have had a considerable impact on population’s urban activities and the use of the public spaces. Yet, it could be argued that urban activities within gated communities have increased as the residents were forced to stay at home, or within the gated compounds’ walls. Thus, this paper investigates the use of the spaces for urban activities inside the gated communities; whether residential or beach destinations, in Egypt during the pandemic. It then studies the segregation in the rights of use of open urban spaces inside and outside gated communities, during the pandemic.

“Tulun IYA”. The concept of improvement of Lenin Street

The article reviews historical, natural, landscape and economic conditions for the development of Tulun. The authors propose strategies of renovation of the city center, including economy restructuring, usage of urban mentality and existing urban activities, as well as citizen participation in design and territory management.