Hima Forum: Local and International Experts Discuss Conservation and Protected Areas in Saudi Arabia
The Hima protected areas forum, organized by the National Center for Wildlife in Riyadh from April 21-24, concluded with local and foreign companies bidding farewell.
The event highlighted the Kingdom's conservation efforts and included discussions, workshops, and presentations.
The concept of protecting natural habitats and wildlife dates back to the pre-Islamic era, when Bedouins in the Arabian Peninsula cultivated land to claim ownership.
This practice, known as Hima, is considered an area of special interest for agriculture, as stated by Hasan Nasser Salman Al-Nasser, an agricultural specialist at the Environment Agency.
Al-Nasser discussed the historical development of "hima," a protected area concept in Saudi Arabia.
The Prophet first protected a natural reserve for horses.
Under Khalifah Omar, there were himas at Al-Sur and Alrabathah, and later, each tribe was responsible for safeguarding their natural reserves.
The forum included NEOM, Red Sea Global, Catmosphere, and the Northern Rangelands Trust.
Issa Ismail Gedi, from the Northern Rangelands Trust, shared his childhood experiences of coexisting with wildlife on their land.
The text is about a organization that works on creating resilient community conservation regions to improve lives and protect the natural environment.
They have protected various areas including national parks in Kenya, and support around 50-60% of wildlife outside protected areas.
The first forum of its kind was held by the National Center for Wildlife, with support from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
Experts from both locally and internationally shared knowledge to discuss strategies for preserving and protecting Saudi Arabia's nature and wildlife.