Environmental Education
To raise awareness and educate about environment is a
vital part of nature conservation. It helps develop
public understanding for the importance and
sensitivity of natural ecosystems.


The Dahab Marine Research Center (DMRC) offers courses 
in marine biology and environmental conservation to the public and hosts field courses from European universities 
and Egyptian academic institutions.

The DMRC directly assists local environmental conservation through cooperative activities with Volunteer Rangers (Nabq Protected Area) and the National Parks of Egypt (Ras Mohammed National Park).













Volunteer activities, such as garbage clean-ups and
Crown-of-Thorns collections, allow residents and guests in Dahab to help in the protection of the natural environment. Other operations include coral reef monitoring and support of local environmental initiatives.

High-quality research on the ecology of coral reefs and other local ecosystems is a prerequisite to ensure their conservation. The DMRC research program brings together professional scientists and research students from Egypt and Europe to protect biodiversity, e.g. through biological inventory work, and to provide answers to relevant questions regarding local conservation and environmental protection.














Recent research projects included:

• studies on the reef condition and potential for the establishment of a snorkeling trail as management plan for the Napoleon Reef
• community ecology and biodiversity of the Islands dive sites
• coral/sponge interactions and related natural products
  
• habitat preferences of Gobiids

 
Former projects, such as:

• the population ecology of Crown-of-Thorns starfish and sea cucumbers
• the flora of Wadi Qnai
• the effects of local fisheries on fish stocks
• the growth of artificial reefs 

have partially been published and added to our understanding of the local ecosystems