AlUla, Saudi Arabia, and Kenya's Space for Giants Forge Partnership to Enhance Natural Reserves
Saudi Arabia's AlUla Governorate has struck a collaborative agreement with Space for Giants, a Kenyan environmental conservation organization, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency. Their collective mission is to protect AlUla's biodiversity, cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, and bolster the carbon absorption of the region's natural preserves.
Together, over the next three years, they intend to develop and carry out initiatives to manage and safeguard the environment and local wildlife, ensuring their strategies meet international standards and contribute to the Saudi Green Initiative's objectives - a climate action plan initiated in 2021 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - and the broader aims of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
The partnership will equip conservation teams with the tools, systems, and expertise needed to effectively maintain protected areas and guarantee ranger safety. They aim to enhance communication and data-sharing among conservationists to better protect these regions. A key goal is to attain IUCN Green List certification for the reserves by 2025 while working to lessen carbon emissions and increase carbon capture.
There's also a commitment to fostering eco-friendly tourism in AlUla. The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is developing various natural reserves within the governorate, like Sharaan, Al-Gharamil, Wadi Nakhla, Harrat Al-Zaben, and Harrat Awairid, each notable for unique flora, fauna, and geological characteristics. These reserves span over 12,000 square kilometers - more than half of AlUla's territory.
To ensure effective patrol, the reserves are manned by 154 AlUla conservation staff members, all of whom have completed a rigorous 18-month training program.
The partnership will equip conservation teams with the tools, systems, and expertise needed to effectively maintain protected areas and guarantee ranger safety. They aim to enhance communication and data-sharing among conservationists to better protect these regions. A key goal is to attain IUCN Green List certification for the reserves by 2025 while working to lessen carbon emissions and increase carbon capture.
There's also a commitment to fostering eco-friendly tourism in AlUla. The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) is developing various natural reserves within the governorate, like Sharaan, Al-Gharamil, Wadi Nakhla, Harrat Al-Zaben, and Harrat Awairid, each notable for unique flora, fauna, and geological characteristics. These reserves span over 12,000 square kilometers - more than half of AlUla's territory.
To ensure effective patrol, the reserves are manned by 154 AlUla conservation staff members, all of whom have completed a rigorous 18-month training program.
