Irresponsible human interventions, encroachment of natural habitats, and climate change negatively affect wildlife. In this study, the effects of human influence on Wadi Hagul, an unprotected area in the north of the Egyptian Eastern Desert that has recently been subjected to blatant encroachments of vegetation, were studied. The most important of these threats is the construction of the new road Al-Galala–Wadi Hagul–Zafarana. In Wadi Hagul, 80 species are reported in this study; the most represented plant families are Asteraceae (15 species) and Brassicaceae (6 species). Perennial, chamaephyte and Saharo-Arabian species were recorded in the highest percentage. Detrended canonical correspondence analysis showed that latitude, longitude, altitude, silt, sand contents, pH, and CO₃²⁻ content are the factors that have the highest effect on vegetation distribution in the studied stands. Several invasive and alien species such as Euphorbia prostrata have been listed; these species typically have a negative effect on native species. The Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) indicated a decrease in plant cover during the study period, as compared to previous years. In 2013 and 2020, SAVI ranged from −0.02 to 0.42 and from −0.18 to 0.28, respectively. Recently, the violation and destruction of wildlife have increased, therefore, preserving it along with general biodiversity has become an urgent necessity.

Aims: This study assessed the comparative impact of irrigation with sewage wastewater (SWW) and mixed sewage-industrial wastewater (SIWW) on soil fertility indicators and heavy metal accumulation in clayey soils and rice grains, using Nile water (NW) irrigation as a control. Materials and Methods: Samples were collected from 21 sites in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt, representing three irrigation sources: seven sites each irrigated by SWW, SIWW, and NW. Results: Soils and rice grains from wastewater-irrigated sites showed significantly elevated levels of salinity, nutrients, organic matter, and bioavailable heavy metals compared to the Nile water control. Soil pH was the sole exception, showing no significant difference. SWW sources exhibited the highest levels of salinity, biochemical oxygen demand, nutrients, and heavy metals. This directly corresponded with elevated levels of these constituents in the soil and, subsequently, in rice grains, demonstrating a clear source-pathway-receptor linkage. Evaluation of soil fertility using the Applied System for Land Evaluation software classified into two classes: good-C2 under, and fair-C3 under. Heavy metal levels in soil, water, and plants were within safe limits. The contamination factor values followed the order: Ni ˃ Cd ˃ Cu ˃ Pb ˃ Zn. The pollution load index of soils under SWW was higher than that of soils under SIWW. Conclusions: Wastewater is a valuable source of nutrients that significantly improves soil fertility. However, the associated accumulation of soluble salts and bioavailable cadmium, which entered the food chain, necessitates immediate, targeted monitoring and source control to ensure long-term agricultural sustainability.

Soil salinity, characterized by the accumulation of soluble salts, poses a significant global threat to agriculture, affecting over one billion hectares. It induces osmotic stress and ion toxicity, significantly diminishing crop yields and arable land. Egypt, heavily reliant on the Nile Delta, experiences severe salinization resulting from irrigation practices, climate change, and inherent aridity. This escalating crisis compromises agricultural productivity and food security, necessitating urgent global solutions. A total of 103 plant taxa were documented. Asteraceae (22 species) and Poaceae (13 species) constituted the most diverse families. Annuals (50.0%) and therophytes (49.5%) represented the predominant life forms, while biregional species (36.9%) formed the largest chorological group. Soil physicochemical properties, including particle size distribution, pH, EC, TDS, organic matter, saturation percentage, SAR, available N, P, and K, major ions (Ca² ⁺ , Mg² ⁺ , Na ⁺ , K ⁺ , Cl ⁻ , HCO₃ ⁻ , SO₄²⁻), and CaCO₃%, were determined in all stands. Two-Way Indicator Species Analysis (TWINSPAN) and Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) classified the studied stands into six distinct groups. Stands within each group exhibited ecological similarity. Each vegetation group possessed its own set of indicator plant species, and the soil factors most closely associated with them.

In the hyper-arid deserts of Egypt, where extreme environmental conditions prevail, understanding the symbiotic relationship between the sparse vegetation cover and the underlying soil is crucial for unraveling the mechanisms of plant survival and ecosystem functioning. This study investigates vegetation composition, environmental drivers, and their interactions in an unprotected area of Egypt’s northern Eastern Desert, which has recently experienced substantial anthropogenic disturbances. Primary threats to vegetation include road construction, unregulated quarrying, and overexploitation of natural resources. To represent the habitats present in the study area, 20 stands were selected. In each stand, the existing plant species were recorded, soil samples were taken from each stand, and multivariate statistics (DCA) were conducted to show the relationship between the distinctive plant indicators for each stand, as well as the most influential soil factors in each stand. Then, the state of the vegetation cover in previous years (2014) was compared with the state in the study year (2024). A total of 75 plant species were documented, with Asteraceae (15 species) and Fabaceae (6 species) representing the most diverse families. Perennials (73%), chamaephytes (44%), and Saharo-Arabian species (71%) dominated the flora. Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) revealed that the studied stands were divided into four groups (A, B, C, and D). Each group was ecologically similar to the other. Each group of stands had distinctive plant indicators and the soil factors most closely associated with them. Based on the IUCN Red List, conservation status assessments were provided for each species (65 species were unevaluated, while only 11% of the total species are classified as Least Concern, with no taxa appearing in the threatened category). The presence of invasive non-native taxa, such as Beta vulgaris and Centaurea calcitrapa , which threaten native biodiversity, was noted. Analysis of the Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) revealed a reduction in vegetation cover between 2014 (SAVI range: -0.523911 to 0.860437) and 2024 (SAVI range: -0.574714 to 1.08698). The recorded plant species include 16 medicinal plants. Escalating habitat destruction and anthropogenic pressures underscore the urgent need for targeted conservation strategies to safeguard biodiversity in this vulnerable region.