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Arab News
3 days ago
- Science
- Arab News
Study to document 12,000 species in Saudi Arabia will improve quality of life, says wildlife CEO
RIYADH: A new study to document biodiversity in Saudi Arabia will 'positively impact' the environment, society and quality of life, according to National Center for Wildlife CEO Mohammad Qurban. Qurban spoke to Arab News about how the Decade Land Expedition for Terrestrial Ecosystem Exploration 'reflects national efforts to restore ecosystems and enhance ecological balance, in line with the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030.' Qurban told Arab News: 'The expeditions provide an updated and accurate database that constitutes a baseline for integrated and sustainable management, which benefits the sustainability of our natural resources and the balance of our environment. 'This positively impacts environmental, social, and economic development and raises the quality of life.' The expedition is scheduled to provide a comprehensive inventory of biodiversity in all study areas, identifying breeding and distribution sites. It will also create a national database and interactive maps of recorded sites and species, he added. The Decade Land Expedition for Terrestrial Ecosystem Exploration is one of the largest national projects to explore biodiversity in the Kingdom, according to a recent statement issued by the center. The project will help to document the significant biological wealth of Saudi Arabia, he added, and strengthen the Kingdom's role in regional and international environmental agreements. 'The Kingdom boasts 65 ecosystems and more than 12,000 species of wild plants and animals,' Qurban said. 'The Kingdom will have a unique database of its terrestrial and marine ecosystems, a starting point for sustainable management and a reliable reference for researchers and scientists,' Qurban said. The expedition will involve experts and researchers from the Kingdom and beyond, in collaboration with national universities, research centers, royal reserves and other international organizations. It will identify endemic, threatened and restricted-range species, assessing the threats they face, and developing plans to mitigate those threats and create a safe and sustainable environment. The program also involves updating the national wetland plan in the Kingdom.
Forbes
07-07-2025
- Science
- Forbes
How Saudi Arabia Is Rescuing Endangered Arabian Leopards And Gazelles
In this Tuesday, July 30, 2013 photo, a four year old Arabian leopard called "Spoti" looks into the ... More camera at the Breeding Center for the Arabian Wildlife in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) Arabian leopards, the smallest of the leopard subspecies have been heavily impacted by climate change, habitat destruction, poaching and a loss of prey in the last few years. Once spread out widely across the mountains of the Arabian peninsula in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Yemen, these big cats are currently on the brink of extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the Arabian leopard as critically endangered, with 100-120 left in the wild, as of October 2022. Out of these, however, only 70-84 are estimated to be mature individuals. These remaining leopards mainly live in Oman and Yemen, with very few, if any, left in Saudi Arabia. However, they are already locally extinct in Jordan, UAE, Israel, Palestine and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. In an effort to protect these highly endangered animals, Saudi Arabia has launched key conservation initiatives, as part of the Saudi Green Initiative. Dr. Belisa Marochi, sustainability and leadership professor at Hult International Business School, told me in an interview: 'Spearheading these efforts is the National Center for Wildlife, which runs breeding programmes and restores degraded habitats, building on the success of the Arabian oryx recovery project.' Saudi Arabia, along with other countries, successfully brought the Arabian oryx back from the brink of extinction. It is now used as a blueprint to shape Arabian leopard conservation efforts. Along with leopards, Saudi Arabia is also working on preserving Arabian sand gazelles which have been classified as vulnerable by the IUCN, with between 1,750 and 2,150 mature individuals left in the wild as of 2016. These conservation attempts are focused mainly on the country's Sharaan Nature Reserve and AIUIa region. Urban development and declining prey main threats to Arabian leopards For several years now, Arabian leopard habitats have been degraded by a number of factors. These include human encroachment, mainly through agriculture and urbanization, which had led to leopard habitat being turned into farms, settlements and roads, among others. These changes contribute to isolating and dividing habitat areas, which in turn, makes it more difficult for Arabian leopards to breed and move around. Decreasing prey populations are another issue, mainly caused by overhunting of vital prey species like gazelles, ibex and hyraxes. This causes leopards to turn more to livestock for food, which can lead to more human-leopard conflicts and retaliatory killings. Overgrazing by livestock such as sheep, camels and goats can also reduce vegetation quality, which can reduce the number of prey available for leopards. Similarly, human encroachment and urban development are major threats to Arabian gazelle habitats as well. These animals have also been significantly impacted by overhunting and poaching, along with increased competition with livestock in overgrazed areas. Habitat restoration and rewilding key to conservation efforts Saudi Arabia is now trying to restore and rewild Arabian leopard and gazelle habitats through a number of initiatives, led mainly by the Royal Commission for AlUla. H. Bobby Fokidis, associate professor of biology at Rollins College, told me in an interview: 'The grand plan is to rewild parts of Saudi Arabia that haven't seen these species in decades, if not centuries.' These include captive breeding and reintroduction programs, establishing nature reserves and planting more native trees and plants, along with more research and international collaborations. An Arabian Leopard Fund has also been established by the RCU for this purpose. In 2019, the organization pledged $20 million to leopard conservation in Saudi Arabia and globally over the next decade. The captive breeding programs have already started showing encouraging results, with a rare litter of Arabian leopard triplets being born at the RCU's Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Centre in Taif back in December 2024. This was the first time a triplet Arabian leopard litter was born in captivity in Saudi Arabia. In time, the Kingdom plans to reintroduce these captive-bred leopards into its rewilded areas. The RCU is also working on partnerships with Conservation Biology Institute and the Smithsonian's National Zoo, to further improve its breeding initiatives. Establishing natural reserves such as the Sharaan Nature Reserve was another important step to enhance rewilding initiatives. The RCU is working on protecting degraded habitats from domestic animals as well, thus giving natural vegetation a chance to regrow. It is also trying to boost natural prey numbers for species such as Arabian gazelles, Arabian oryx and the Nubian ibex. The Zoological Society of London has been contributing to Saudi Arabia's long-term sand gazelle breeding, captive management, reintroduction and monitoring efforts. This has mainly been in collaboration with the King Khalid Wildlife Research Centre. Sand gazelles bred in captivity have been reintroduced to the Kingdom's Empty Quarter, as well as the Ibex Reserve and Uruq Bani Ma'arid. ZSL has also helped train local staff in data collection and conservation techniques, while also furthering the understanding of gazelle genetics. Fokidis pointed out: 'For gazelles, the rewilding is a little further along. There have already been actual reintroductions of both Arabian and mountain gazelles into areas of substantial size like Sharaan and King Salman Royal Natural Reserves.' Several native tree species like acacias are also being planted, especially in Sharaan National Park, in an attempt to reverse desertification and reintroduce vegetation to this area. According to the IUCN World Conservation Congress, more than half a million seedlings have been planted already across active restoration areas. Community engagement to foster greater Arabian leopard-human harmony In addition to the above measures, Saudi Arabia is focusing heavily on public awareness and community engagement programs. These have been crucial in educating local communities about the importance of Arabian leopards and sand gazelles in the ecosystem and encouraging public participation in conservation initiatives. In several cases, this also includes suggesting livestock protection solutions, highlighting the benefits of ecotourism and implementing early warning systems. These livestock protection methods can include using livestock guardian dogs and building predator-proof enclosures from wire mesh and other sturdy materials. Community-based conservation programs also involve regular community meetings. These focus on assessing predator activity, as well as on conflict minimizing technique training. This can go a long way in decreasing livestock-leopard and human-leopard interactions. Marochi noted: 'Public education plays a central role, with campaigns designed to raise awareness of the importance of safeguarding Saudi Arabia's natural heritage for generations to come. The initiative demonstrates that economic diversification and wildlife conservation can go hand in hand.' The RCU has also joined forces with organizations such as Panthera, a wild cat conservation group, to further improve conservation methods and monitor the Arabian leopard's status in the Kingdom. It is also trying to work with other range states across the Arabian Peninsula in order to align conservation initiatives. Fragile ecosystems and arid conditions make conservation trickier Although Saudi Arabia has considerably ramped up its conservation efforts already, significant challenges still remain. One of the main hurdles is how elusive and rare Arabian leopards are, making it very difficult for researchers and organizations to study them and develop appropriate conservation strategies. Another great conservation challenge is Saudi Arabia's unique ecosystem. Fokidis highlighted: 'Rewilding in Saudi Arabia means dealing with hyper-arid desert conditions and very fragile ecosystems that can take centuries to completely recover. The fact is that much of the original habitat has been fragmented or altered beyond recognition.' Much of this damage has also been caused by off-roaders and dune bashers, who can significantly harm desert wildlife by causing vegetation loss, soil disturbances and habitat fragmentation. This in turn disrupts breeding grounds and food chains, while also increasing pollution and harming desert ecosystem productivity. However, these activities continue to be very popular among tourists, especially given Saudi Arabia's increased efforts to promote tourism in the last few years. 'Unlike rewilding efforts in temperate climates like the US and Europe, Saudi Arabia's projects face extreme environmental conditions where species must be adapted to scarce water, harsh temperatures, and limited vegetation,' noted Fokidis. Reintroducing apex predators like the Arabian leopard, along with a considerable number of prey species also means that a lot of open space is needed. However, given the increasing number of Saudi Arabian giga-projects such as NEOM and Diriyah, open space may soon be much harder to come by, potentially causing issues for long-term rewilding projects. Poaching and illegal hunting, apart from retaliatory killings, are other ongoing issues, both for Arabian leopards and gazelles. This is mainly due to illegal trade in fur and skin, body parts, meat, horns and for traditional medicine. Saudi Arabia has been attempting to restrict hunting to specific game reserves only, but whether this approach will be successful in the long-term remains to be seen. The Kingdom is still relatively new to conservation biology, and as such, has to rely mainly on foreign biologists, external agencies and conservationists to frame these initiatives and share knowledge with domestic talent. More school and public awareness programs are needed as well, in order to change the public mentality towards wildlife, which is still largely seen as a livestock threat or something to hunt. Another major issue is determining how to balance conservation with development, especially as more giga-projects take off. 'You simply cannot pour concrete over ecosystems and expect things like leopards to thrive. It doesn't happen. These efforts are happening in real time alongside a broader societal transformation, and the success of Saudi conservation may hinge on how effectively these initiatives are integrated into their national identity,' Fokidis said. Long-term commitment needed for successful rewilding Although Saudi Arabia has already started rewilding and habitat restoration, these initiatives need to be maintained long-term in order to see significant results. This can not only help the Kingdom become a Middle Eastern leader in conservation, but also help long-term environmental resilience. 'Rewilding often occurs while the pressures that made those animals rare in the first place still exist, and depending on the long-term goal of achieving sustainable populations will only mean more rewilding elsewhere, possibly using your "saved" animals, so the work is ongoing,' Fokidis explained. This may need considerable funding, ecological monitoring and scientific oversight, along with decades of commitment and genetic diversity planning. As such, long-term political agendas, funding and public awareness campaigns all need to align for decades on end to sustain these rewilding and restoration programs. Several other Middle Eastern animal species, such as the Arabian oryx, sand cats, houbara bustards and Nubian ibex are still vulnerable to many of these habitat and ecosystem threats. As such, rewilding efforts may need to extend to these species as well in the future. Fokidis noted: 'Saudi Arabia is trying, to its credit, Whether it's enough for Arabian leopards, we will see. If nothing else, this all proves that even in the desert, the flower of hope can grow, as long as it comes with a wildlife veterinarian, GPS collars, drone surveillance, and a few billion riyals.'
Arab News
25-06-2025
- General
- Arab News
Gazelle is desert's skittish, elusive icon and poets' enduring muse
RIYADH: The skittish gazelle, revered in Bedouin culture, is a defining symbol of wildlife in the Arabian Peninsula. The Arabian gazelle is known for its agility, alertness and extreme caution, according to a recent Saudi Press Agency report. Gazelles are swift, reaching speeds of up to 100 kph in short bursts. Beyond its physical traits, the gazelle has become a cultural symbol of beauty and elusive elegance in Arab tradition, the SPA added. Poets have long compared their beloveds to the gazelle, immortalizing its qualities in verses from the pre-Islamic era to the present. In popular heritage, the skittish gazelle represents 'the hunter's pursuit,' highlighting the skill required to track it in sandy terrain, the SPA report stated. As a part of Saudi Arabia's biodiversity preservation efforts, the National Center for Wildlife and the Royal Reserves Council have launched initiatives to reintroduce gazelles into their natural habitats, to address their population decline. These efforts fall within a broader national strategy to restore ecological balance and ensure the sustainability of wildlife, alongside awareness programs that promote the preservation of this vital natural heritage. Earlier this month, NEOM reintroduced more than 1,100 animals, representing six species, to its expansive nature reserve, marking a major step in its broader mission to revive the region's natural balance. As NEOM's regreening program progresses — with 4.7 million trees, shrubs and grasses planted so far — the 530 Arabian Sand Gazelles currently in the reserve are thriving on the returning natural vegetation, aided by the removal of heavy livestock grazing. NEOM is also home to 223 Arabian gazelles, which are typically darker in color and more elusive, preferring to reside in foothills and rugged mountain terrain.
Arab News
24-06-2025
- General
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia's Uruq Bani Ma'arid gains spot on global conservation list
RIYADH: Uruq Bani Ma'arid, one of Saudi Arabia's most ecologically significant protected areas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been admitted to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas. The recognition confirms the site's global ecological importance and highlights the Kingdom's growing leadership in conserving arid-land habitats, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. Saudi Arabia's inclusion of Uruq Bani Ma'arid follows earlier Green List achievements, notably the Ibex Protected Area and the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve. These milestones reflect sustained progress toward excellence in protected-area management, according to the SPA report. Uruq Bani Ma'arid covers 12,765 sq. km at the western edge of the Empty Quarter — the world's largest continuous sand desert — and harbors the greatest biodiversity in the region. In 2023, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding natural value. The union's Green List sets the global benchmark for effective and equitable protected-area management. To qualify, sites must demonstrate transparent governance, measurable conservation outcomes and meaningful engagement with local stakeholders. Uruq Bani Ma'arid met the criteria through integrated planning, resilient ecological monitoring and habitat restoration programs, the SPA reported. Under the stewardship of the National Center for Wildlife, Uruq Bani Ma'arid has implemented a breeding and reintroduction program for the endangered Arabian oryx. Mohammad Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, said: 'Uruq Bani Ma'arid exemplifies what science-guided conservation can achieve in extreme landscapes. Its inclusion on the IUCN Green List reflects our dedication to protecting biodiversity and delivering real conservation impact at both national and global levels.' He added that the milestone supports Saudi Arabia's contribution to the global 30x30 biodiversity target — protecting 30 percent of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030 — and aligns with the Saudi Green Initiative, a core pillar of Vision 2030.
Zawya
16-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Anmat Technology secures nearly $16.53mln in Saudi government deals
Riyadh - Anmaat Technology Company has secured SAR 61.72 million in government contracts to expand its tech footprint across Saudi Arabia's tourism, energy, and wildlife sectors, according to bourse disclosures. The first agreement, valued at SAR 24.76 million, was signed with the Ministry of Tourism on 12 January 2025, to develop a container systems platform. The contract spans 36 months. Anmat Technology also received a SAR 17.22 million purchase order from the Saudi Electricity Company for Phase 2 of a meeting room unification project, with a duration period of 35 days. Additionally, a SAR 19.74 million deal was sealed on 29 May 2025 with the National Center for Wildlife to establish licensing management offices for wildlife trade across eight locations in the Kingdom. The contract duration ranges from six to seven months. Meanwhile, the three agreements are expected to positively impact Anmat Technology's financial statements in the second half (H2) of 2025. Earlier, Anmaat Technology signed two contracts to execute key contracting works in the Riyadh Municipality region, totaling SAR 111.41 million in value. All Rights Reserved - Mubasher Info © 2005 - 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
