Coinciding with World Migratory Bird Day, Professor Dr. Hemdan Rabie Al-Metwally, President of the University, today, Tuesday, January 28, 2025, inaugurated the activities of the “Migratory Birds and Activating Ecotourism in Damietta Governorate” festival,.The event is organized by Damietta University in cooperation with the Ministries of Environment and Tourism, in the presence of Professor Dr. Mohamad Abdo Amasha, Vice President of the University for Education and Student Affairs, Professor Dr. Mamdouh Soufan, former President of the University, and a number of deans of the university’s faculties and their deputies, a group of representatives from the Ministries of Environment and Tourism, and life photographers. wilderness, civil society activists, and university students. Professor Dr. Hemdan Rabie, President of the University, opened the art exhibition of migratory birds accompanying the festival, which included dozens of rare photos of migratory birds in the sky of Damietta, taken by professional photographers during their field trips, along with artistic paintings inspired by the biological diversity of the governorate. The President of the University praised the exhibition, saying: “These photos are not just artistic snapshots, but rather a message to the world that Damietta holds natural treasures that deserve protection and investment.” During his address, the University President stressed that Damietta University seeks, through this festival, to integrate science with society, as Damietta University is not only a place to study, but a partner in building a green future. The university president added that Damietta University reflects the Egyptian state’s interest in education and the expansion of establishing universities in light of the economic conditions the country is going through, which enhances the university’s societal responsibility towards advancing sustainable development. For his part, Professor Dr. Mamdouh Soufan, former university president, expressed his confidence in the university’s ability to achieve its goals thanks to the efforts and determination of all its employees, extending his thanks to the university president for his unlimited support for the events, and to all those organizing the festival, and the Students for Egypt family. At the end of his address, the University President honored a group of prominent figures, including Dr. Iman Al-Ghazawy, Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Technology at the Faculty of Specific Education at Port Said University, Dr. Hussein Rashad, Director of the Ashtoum Al-Jamil Reserve, and Mr. Ayman Shehata, in appreciation of their efforts to preserve the environment. A documentary video was also shown reviewing migratory birds that pass through Damietta Governorate during their seasonal migration paths, pointing to the distinctive geographical location of the governorate and its biological characteristics that make it an important destination for birds. Within the framework of the festival’s activities, Professor Dr. Basma Sheta, a professor at the Faculty of Science, delivered a report on migratory birds, where she stressed that the festival aims to promote Damietta Governorate as a strategic geographical location for migratory birds, and also reflects the importance of preserving migratory birds, which are a vital indicator of the health of the systems. Environmental. The “Migratory Birds and Activating Ecotourism in Damietta Governorate” festival comes within the initiative of Damietta University in partnership with the Ministries of Environment and Tourism, to enhance awareness of the importance of preserving migratory birds, in addition to exploiting the unique natural components of the governorate to attract ecotourism and diversify sources of income for local communities. The festival will continue its activities tomorrow, Wednesday, with an exploratory cruise in Lake Manzala, in which visitors participate with environmental experts in observing and photographing birds in their natural environment.