/Mapping Trees in Egyptian Cities: Book Launch & Discussion with Dr. Nabeel Elhady

In collaboration with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung-FES Egypt office, we are delighted to host Prof. Nabeel Elhady for a book launch and discussion of his latest release. We are pleased that this event coincides with the ongoing «Ecologies of Cities» module - part of the BIAS-AME 2026 Diploma program - offering a wonderful opportunity for intersecting discussions on local knowledge and nature within urban space.

The book «Mapping Trees in Egyptian Cities» documents a research and field-based experience developed through the collaborative effort of a small team in documenting and mapping trees across parts of Al Orman, the Zoo gardens, and the Cairo University campus. This took place during a winter workshop titled «Tree Mapping in Egyptian Cities,» organized by Cairo University as part of the postgraduate course «The Egyptian City» in February 2023. Through this work, the project develops initial ideas highlighting how communities - especially youth - can identify and document trees near their homes, schools, and workplaces.

This citizen-led documentation highlights the importance of trees as a fundamental component in shaping the urban landscape. It is designed to be uploaded to a digital platform, generating local knowledge that supports people's relationship with trees and nature. The overarching goal is to initiate a decentralized process where local community agency drives the documentation of trees in their contexts across various cities and villages in Egypt. Knowing our natural surroundings leads to a better understanding of major challenges like the climate crisis and biodiversity deterioration, ultimately motivating action to reduce their negative impacts.

Nabeel Elhady
Professor of Architecture at Cairo University. In 2019, he founded the «Virtual and Experimental Research Place» (VERP), a body of interconnected research activities integrating postgraduate classes, masters, and PhD theses. VERP actively explores and develops local innovations to help human beings live decently within ecological boundaries. He is the author of several non-fiction studies, including «Restoring Life to the City of Quseir» (2018), «Living with Water in Borg Rashid» (2020), and «Narrative of Mit Rahina: The Road to Transformation» (2025). He also tackles urbanism issues through published chapters in books such as «Middle Eastern Cities in Crisis» and «People and Water».

About Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES)
A German international non-profit foundation with an office in Egypt since 1976. Working alongside local partners for over 45 years, FES pursues projects in social protection, gender justice, climate change adaptation, energy transition, and sustainable urban development, guided by a broader commitment to democracy, social justice, and equality.

The book is available online via:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cufe-architecture_mapping-trees-in-egyptian-cities-activity-7452999741094731776-b1dk

** This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. It will be conducted in Arabic.

Register here:
https://forms.gle/3d6bj4BrDjX7oQWQ8