Saudi Arabia has announced new plans to support and develop the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve.
Volcanic pinnacle in Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve (PRNewsfoto/Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve Development Authority)
The plan is a comprehensive roadmap in line with global standards, covering the environmental, economic, social, tourism, and cultural aspects of the 24,500 square kilometre Reserve, which includes 15 distinct ecosystems, ranging from mountain ridges to coral reefs in the northwest of the Kingdom.
The plan enables the efficient and effective management of the Reserve. It establishes key guidelines for restoring and conserving wildlife in line with the latest global standards, including guiding species reintroduction plans through modern technologies and setting a framework for developing and enhancing the ecotourism ecosystem.
This includes Red Sea Global’s AMAALA tourism development, which is located within the Reserve. The Reserve also features in four sites on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List for the Kingdom and is aiming to become the world’s most famous heritage tourism destination for environmental conservation, whilst achieving the necessary balance with the needs of the local communities.
The Integrated Development Management Plan follows the completion of intensive studies to determine the historical and current state of the Reserve’s environment and the steps needed to restore the ecosystems, flora and fauna to the state it was in a century ago.
The Reserve is home to 15 distinct ecosystems, ranging from mountain ridges, through life-giving wadis to the coral reefs of the Red Sea, creating an exceptional level of biodiversity. Twenty-three historically occurring species have been selected for reintroduction, 16 of which are extinct within the Reserve’s borders, four are Critically Endangered, and three are Vulnerable according to IUCN listings, including the iconic Arabian oryx, Arabian leopard, and cheetah.
An extensive habitat restoration project supports this wildlife reintroduction program, aiming to protect and conserve the Reserve’s 400-plus native plant species. The Reserve aims to become a tourism destination that offers visitors a diverse terrestrial and marine experience while simultaneously ensuring the protection of its ecosystems and biodiversity.
