African wildlife expertise to help revitalise Middle Eastern nature reserves
In a first for conservation, the knowledge of charity Space for Giants is to be adopted to help develop landscapes in Saudi Arabia
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Royal Commission for AlUla and the conservation organisation Space for Giants have signed an agreement to combine their areas of expertise in biodiversity conservation.
Over the next three years they will work together to ensure that the ranger force in five nature reserves have the equipment, capacity, systems and governance to protect community rights and ranger health and safety. They will develop communications and technology architecture to provide rangers with the tools to patrol and protect the reserves, while working on the management capacity and systems so that each achieves IUCN Green List certification by 2025.
The objective is to also calculate the potential for reducing carbon emissions and increasing carbon storage capacity at the reserves and explore promoting a nature-based, sustainable ecotourism model. Dr Stephen Browne, the Royal Commission’s Wildlife and Natural Heritage expert, said there was already growing knowledge in the area about conservation, especially related to reviving Arabian Leopard numbers, and explained this would now help “to raise awareness among citizens and visitors about the conservation of biodiversity and heritage.”
The work will focus on five nature reserves – Sharaan, Al Gharameel, Wadi Nakhlah, Harrat Alzabin, and Harrat Uwayrid – that together cover a combined area of more than 12,500 sq km. Patrolling the reserves are 154 wildlife rangers.Space for Giants’ founder, Dr Max Graham, said skills honed in Africa would help as expertise spans “conservation landscapes, conservation science, human-wildlife coexistence and frontline protection for those working in national parks and conservation areas”.
He said: “We are very excited to now be able to deliver vital and long-lasting conservation benefits to the region.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments