Saudi Arabia’s wildlife sanctuaries help preserve a wealth of biodiversity

As the threat to wildlife grows worldwide, Saudi Arabia’s efforts to preserve its rich biodiversity offer a beacon of hope. (AFP)
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Updated 03 September 2022
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Saudi Arabia’s wildlife sanctuaries help preserve a wealth of biodiversity

  • The effort dates back to 1978, when Saudi authorities set aside 82,700 square kilometer area to protect natural habitats
  • In 1986, the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development was set up to oversee conservation initiatives

JEDDAH: Relentless economic development, accompanied by agricultural and industrial expansion, the extraction of minerals and fossil fuels, and improved health and nutrition, has led to a global population explosion.

This in turn has resulted in the encroachment of urban areas such as cities and towns into previously uninhabited lands and animal habitats.

While living standards have risen over the centuries, the upward trajectory of unsustainable development has placed a heavy burden on the world’s ecosystems, with carbon emissions, deforestation and the overexploitation of land and fisheries causing untold harm to plant and animal life.

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature’s biannual Living Planet Report 2020, about a million animal species face the threat of extinction in the coming decades, with potentially catastrophic consequences for pollinators and our food systems.

But as the efforts of Saudi Arabia show, the picture is not uniformly bleak. From the rugged mountains of the Hijaz and the lush green oases of the east to the wide valleys and vast desert plains that make up 30 percent of the country’s land, the diverse landscape is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.

To preserve this wealth of biodiversity, authorities in the Kingdom have devoted considerable resources to conservation efforts, including funding for projects designed to protect threatened species and expand nature reserves, preventing further human encroachment into vulnerable habitats.




Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman watches gazelle foals run as he attends the launch of projects for a nature reserve at AlUla. (AFP)

Saudi Arabia spans the majority of the Arabian Peninsula but is among the world’s most sparsely populated countries, allowing it to set aside vast tracts of land as protected wildlife preserves, safe from urban, agricultural or industrial expansion.

These efforts date back to 1978, when Saudi authorities set aside an initial 82,700 square kilometer area to protect natural habitats. In 1986, the Kingdom established the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development to oversee conservation initiatives.

One of the first species-specific programs it launched was a captive-breeding project for Chlamydotis undulata macqueenii, better known as the houbara bustard, the population of which had dwindled as a result of overhunting and changes in land use.

Poaching, falconry, unregulated hunting, overfishing, overgrazing and habitat loss all contributed to the bird being classified as “vulnerable” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s list of endangered species.

Several long-term breeding projects were initiated to build a self-sustaining population of houbara within a network of managed sites and prevent local extinction. The Prince Saud Al-Faisal Center for Wildlife Research succeeded in hatching its first houbara egg in 1989.

Two years later, the center had bred sufficient numbers for them to be released in the Mahazat as-Sayd Protected Area. In the first two years of the project, the center bred more than 2,000 houbaras for release into the wild.




Farasan Island nature reserve. (Supplied/SPA)

Building on monumental work of the center, the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority announced in August this year that it had launched its own houbara breeding center to help replenish local populations.

As part of its ecological protection and restoration efforts, Saudi Arabia has mobilized environmentalists, scientists and special task forces to collaborate with international bodies, including the IUCN, and develop plans for its nature reserves.

Sanctuaries have been created to protect the region’s endangered species. Many of them combine conservation work with the development of ecotourism and public recreational spaces.

Currently the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development manages 15 protected areas, and proposals to grant protected status to 20 more reserves are under review.

An additional 40 areas are managed by other entities, including the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, neighboring countries, and the royal commissions for Jubail, Yanbu and AlUla, among others.

The Prince Saud Al-Faisal Center for Wildlife Research in Taif, the Prince Mohammed Al-Sudairy Center for the Breeding of Reem Gazelles in Al-Qassim, and the Arabian Leopard Sharaan Nature Reserve in AlUla are among the existing reserves in the Kingdom that have helped endangered species to flourish.




From the rugged mountains of the Hijaz and the lush green oases of the east to the wide valleys and vast desert plains that make up 30 percent of the country’s land, the diverse landscape is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. (AFP)

Covering an area of 130,700 square kilometers, the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Natural Reserve, the Kingdom’s largest reserve, is home to about 277 native vertebrate species of bird, mammal, reptile and amphibian.

Its three primary conservation areas — Khunfah, Tubaiq and Harrat Al-Harra — provide sanctuary for rhim gazelle, Arabian wolf, Arabian oryx, sand fox, Nubian ibex, Arabian spiny-tailed lizard and various migratory bird species, including houbara, golden eagle and the Eurasian stone-curlew.

“Tremendous efforts are needed to protect and conserve species of conservation concern, mainly to ensure that these species are well protected against both natural and human-induced threats,” a spokesperson for the KSRNR told Arab News.

“These efforts include, but are not limited to, several protection and conservation programs of habitat restoration, reintroduction, monitoring, protection and awareness programs. The current reintroduction programs mainly include flagship and threatened species such as Arabian oryx, Nubian ibex, Arabian sand gazelle, Arabian gazelle and Asian houbara.

“Preliminary results of such programs and efforts are promising, such as recording signs of acclimatization of individuals and the success of having newborn individuals in the wild of the reintroduced species, including the first oryx to be born in the wild in nine decades.

“Another success story … within KSRNR (is the) breeding population of the griffon vulture, which is considered one of the largest resident breeding populations of the species in the Middle East.”




Houbara bustards are being released into the wild. (Supplied)

Despite recent efforts by governments and agencies throughout the world to conserve ecosystems, the pace of wildlife and habitat loss is staggering.

“The main obstacles facing the animals are habitat degradation due to overgrazing of local herds of livestock, mainly camels, as well as hunting,” the KSRNR spokesperson said.

“The Royal Reserve’s specialized team is tackling these issues of deteriorating habitat by conducting restoration programs, as well as using advanced methods and technology for monitoring and protecting animals.”

Marine habitats in particular are suffering as a result of pollution, acidification and rising temperatures. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, for example, has lost more than half of its corals as a result of rising ocean temperatures in recent years.

Meanwhile, marine life is disappearing rapidly around the world, with whales, dolphins, dugongs, sea turtles and many species of fish disappearing at twice the rate of species on land.

The Farasan Islands, an archipelago off the southwestern coast of Saudi Arabia, is feted for its unique biodiversity. It is home to more than 230 species of fish, a variety of coral reefs, and several endangered marine animals, including dugongs.




The Arabian oryx returns to the wild after years of uncontrolled hunting. (Supplied)

Since 1996, the area has been a protected nature reserve covering 5,400 square km and it was recently added to UNESCO’s World Network of Island and Coastal Biosphere Reserves.

It is a sanctuary for the Kingdom’s largest colony of edmi gazelles, which are endemic to the region, as well as white-tailed mongoose and several species of rodent.

The area is also an important corridor for migratory birds, with about 165 species passing through it. It also has flamingos, Eurasian spoonbills, the largest concentration of pink-backed pelicans on the Red Sea, and the largest concentration of ospreys in the Middle East.

Its remoteness has, to some degree, helped preserve the area and its animal inhabitants. However, with new coastal developments, passing ships and warming waters, certain land and marine species are now in decline, inspiring the efforts to preserve and restore marine ecosystems.

Ten billion mangrove trees will be planted across Saudi Arabia as part of the Saudi Green Initiative, which was launched last year to tackle climate change, reduce carbon emissions and improve the environment.




Millions of mangrove trees will be planted to help marine habitats. (Shutterstock)

Nature reserves are contributing to the Kingdom’s afforestation initiative. KSRNR is working to recover 90 percent of degraded habitats by 2040, with ambitions to plant 70 million native wild species seedlings.

“KSRNR is planting 1 million native plant seedlings in 2022,” the spokesperson said. “This plantation target will be doubled during the year 2023 to reach 2 million seedlings planted.

“This will be the contribution of KSRNR to SGI targets relative to its land area. In 2030, we will aim for 30 million seedlings, and in 2040 we will aim for 70 million.”

Despite these sterling efforts, and the work of conservationists elsewhere, experts warn that more needs to be done, both in the region and globally, if more of the breathtaking variety of animal species with which we share our planet are to avoid extinction.

Rewilding Arabia
Return of the leopard is at the heart of plans to conserve and regenerate Saudi Arabia’s landscapes and wildlife

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How AI can be leveraged to reduce food loss, improve nutrition, and cut emissions

Updated 03 April 2025
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How AI can be leveraged to reduce food loss, improve nutrition, and cut emissions

  • By optimizing food processing at its source, AI is playing a role in reducing emissions and making food production more sustainable
  • Preservation techniques, such as freeze-drying and 3D printing, are being optimized with AI to create long-lasting, nutritious products

RIYADH: Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing nearly every industry, and food production is no exception. From precision farming to lab-grown meat, AI is enabling more sustainable, efficient, and innovative ways to feed the world’s growing population.

One of the most promising applications is the use of AI to tackle food loss — one of the biggest challenges facing global food security. Each year, an estimated $1 trillion worth of food is lost before it even reaches consumers due to spoilage, supply chain inefficiencies, and market rejections.

But AI-powered solutions are beginning to change that, helping to extend shelf life, maximize nutritional value, and reduce environmental impact.

At the forefront of this movement is Essence Food, a company that has combined AI, 3D printing, and advanced freeze-drying techniques to transform surplus produce into nutrient-rich, long-lasting food products.

Led by CEO and founder Marcio Barradas, the company is pioneering a data-driven approach to food preservation, proving that cutting-edge technology can turn food loss into opportunity — benefiting both the planet and public health.

During a 2017 TED talk, Barradas highlighted the crucial difference between food loss and food waste. He explained that food loss occurs early in the supply chain, before products reach consumers, while food waste happens at the consumer level.

The consequences of food loss are significant, leading to a drastic reduction in the volume of food available for consumption. Several factors contribute to this issue, including poor yields, quality inconsistencies, spoilage, and inefficiencies in transportation and storage.

One particularly troubling aspect of food loss is the rejection of perfectly edible fruits and vegetables by retailers due to aesthetic imperfections. This practice results in vast quantities of nutritious food being discarded before it ever reaches a plate.

Reflecting on his TED talk, Barradas told Arab News: “It was a call to the industry to wake up and stop wasting foods when they can actually monetize them. So it was sort of from trash to cash.”

Despite growing awareness of food loss, Barradas observed that as recently as 2019, no large-scale solutions had been implemented to tackle the problem effectively. Determined to change this, he launched Essence Food, a company dedicated to reducing food loss through advanced technology.

By integrating AI with the freeze-drying process, Essence Food repurposes surplus and rejected produce that might otherwise go to waste. This not only preserves valuable nutrients but also addresses long-term health and environmental concerns associated with food production.

Freeze-drying, unlike other dehydration methods, retains a greater percentage of a food’s original nutrients while significantly improving shelf life and product quality. These advantages make it an ideal technology for tackling food loss on a global scale.

After its initial launch in Spain, Essence Food quickly expanded its footprint in the Middle East, beginning with the UAE and now moving into Saudi Arabia.

“We presented it at Gulfood in Dubai, and amazingly, we won as most innovative startup back in 2019,” said Barradas, referring to the company’s 3D-printed products, which have been showcased at the prestigious food industry event.

“This allowed us to expand very fast in the region and start to see how we can optimize all the resources that exist, knowing there is a region that imports the majority of its fruits and vegetables.

“Encouraged by winning that award at Gulfood, what I saw is that in the Middle East, there is an advantage compared to Europe. It’s less bureaucratic. When the decision-makers here believe in something, they will bring it to the front and it will be implemented.”

Although freeze-drying and 3D printing are not new technologies, AI has revolutionized their efficiency. When Barradas founded Essence Food, the company was already “very proactive with machine learning.

“All our data was being stored and analyzed in terms of accelerating the processes, having better decision-making, and also using that machine-learning capacity to really teach our machines.”

As the company worked to develop a more efficient freeze-dryer, AI emerged as the key to optimizing the technique. “Now, the age of AI came really strong in the last two years. So, what we’re doing is a virtual library,” said Barradas.

Every fruit or vegetable that enters Essence Food’s freeze-drying process undergoes rigorous analysis in a laboratory. Strawberries, bananas, tomatoes, beetroot — each ingredient is tested to determine its precise nutritional content.

The data collected is then fed into a virtual AI library, creating a vast database of nutritional insights. This system allows for an unprecedented level of food customization, tailored to individual dietary needs.

“Having that library connected now with AI, you can only imagine how we can customize food for each individual.”

Barradas envisions a future where AI-driven food technology plays a direct role in preventive healthcare. Through Essence Food’s new smartphone app, users will be able to personalize their nutrition with nutrient-rich foods, including a healthier take on gummy bears.

“If I connect your mobile device, which you use every day, and it knows your steps and habits, everything is stored there. If you connect to this app that we are launching, you’ll be able to have customized gummy bears for the whole week,” he said.

“So, you’ll take two gummy bears a day, or one gummy bear a day, not to cure any disease, but to prevent you from getting any disease.”

He believes that modern diets have led to an over-reliance on supplements and pharmaceuticals. “We are only dealing with the consequences, with the symptoms, but we’re not fighting the causes,” he said.

Beyond nutrition, machine learning is also driving new sustainability initiatives within Essence Food’s freeze-drying technology.

One of the company’s most innovative breakthroughs is the recovery of water from fruits during the drying process. This reclaimed water has the potential to support vertical farming and other water-scarce agricultural initiatives.

“There’s something really amazing in this technology,” said Barradas. “It doesn’t need water, but it brings back water. So, any time you freeze-dry in the machine, it gives you potable water that was inside the fruits.”

The implications of this discovery are particularly relevant for regions like Saudi Arabia, where water scarcity is a pressing issue.

“If we load the machine with 40 kg of strawberries, we will be removing 35 liters, 32 liters, of potable water,” said Barradas.

This water recovery system can be integrated with vertical farming operations, creating a closed-loop system where food loss is minimized and essential resources are conserved.

“We want to create a synergy with vertical farming, where we recover food losses from these vertical farms in the desert, and with the water that we recover, we create more food,” said Barradas.

“Because Saudi Arabia, being such a vast region, and knowing the region where dates are grown, it will be amazing to bring the technology to the source and not bring the ingredient to Riyadh, for example, to transform it.

“Because the impact of transport and moving fresh ingredients is really big on the planet. We’re looking to go to the source of the ingredient to minimize everything that has to do with CO2 emissions.”
 

 


Saudi Arabia leads Arab condemnation of Israeli raids on Syrian territory

Updated 03 April 2025
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Saudi Arabia leads Arab condemnation of Israeli raids on Syrian territory

  • Kingdom urges Security Council’s permanent members to address violations in Syria and the region
  • Egypt says raids represent flagrant violation of international law
  • Jordan reiterates support for Syria’s security, stability, sovereignty

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has led Arab condemnation of Israeli airstrikes which violated the Syrian Arab Republic’s sovereignty and resulted in dozens of civilian and military casualties.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Israeli raids were “attempts to threaten the security and stability of Syria and the region through violating international laws.”

The Kingdom urged the UN Security Council’s permanent members to firmly address ongoing Israeli violations in Syria and the region, and called for the activation of accountability mechanisms.

Israeli airstrikes overnight targeted five areas in Syria, including the capital Damascus, and Hama Airport. Multiple people were injured while the actions, and a ground incursion, resulted in 13 fatalities.

Since the fall of the Bashar Assad regime in December, Israel has captured areas of Syria’s southern territory in a bid to keep the forces of the new government back from the border.

Egypt said on Thursday that Israeli raids represented a new and flagrant violation of international law. It called on international actors to compel Israel to end its occupation of Syrian territory and to respect the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.

Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates reiterated Amman’s support for Syria’s security, stability, and sovereignty. It stressed the need for Israel to adhere to international law and UN resolutions that call for respecting state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs.


Bahrain cabinet minister welcomes new Saudi ambassador in Manama

Hamad bin Faisal Al-Malki (R) and Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi at Gudaibiya Palace in Manama. (Supplied)
Updated 03 April 2025
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Bahrain cabinet minister welcomes new Saudi ambassador in Manama

  • Al-Malki highlighted the brotherly relations between the two Gulf kingdoms, describing them as founded on mutual affection

MANAMA: Bahrain’s Minister of Cabinet Affairs Hamad bin Faisal Al-Malki received on Thursday Saudi Arabia’s newly appointed Ambassador Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi at Gudaibiya Palace in Manama.

During the official reception, Al-Malki highlighted the brotherly relations between the two Gulf kingdoms, describing them as founded on mutual affection and deep-rooted historical ties that continued to flourish under the leadership of both nations.

Al-Sudairi expressed his commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing joint initiatives between the two countries.

 

 


Scientific papers submission closes for Riyadh forum

Updated 03 April 2025
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Scientific papers submission closes for Riyadh forum

  • The two-day conference, themed “The Global Lexicography Industry: Experiences, Efforts, and Prospects,” continues the academy’s mission of advancing Arabic language research

RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language has closed submissions of scientific papers for its fourth annual international conference, set for mid-October in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

Under the patronage of Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the event will host experts, linguistic academies and organizations from more than 20 countries.

The two-day conference, themed “The Global Lexicography Industry: Experiences, Efforts, and Prospects,” continues the academy’s mission of advancing Arabic language research.

Abdullah Al-Washmi, secretary-general of the academy, said that the conference would aim to foster collaboration between the academy and linguistic institutions worldwide.

It will serve as a platform for experts to share insights, review successful initiatives in lexicography, and explore ways to modernize dictionary development through emerging technologies and artificial intelligence, he added.

The conference will also highlight key Arabic and international projects while facilitating knowledge exchange among linguists, language academies and technology experts.

 


Saudi Arabia cracks down on environmental violators

Updated 03 April 2025
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Saudi Arabia cracks down on environmental violators

  • Fines for using local firewood and charcoal commercially can reach SR32,000 per cubic meter, while transporting, selling, or storing carries fines of up to SR16,000

RIYADH: The Special Forces for Environmental Security has arrested two Saudis and six expatriates from India, Pakistan, and Yemen for illegally exploiting sedimentary deposits in the Makkah region.

Authorities also seized five soil excavation machines, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

In a separate case, a Saudi national was apprehended for grazing 12 camels in restricted areas of the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, and faces a fine of SR500 ($133) per camel.

A citizen was arrested in the Eastern Province for setting fires on vegetated land, an offense with a penalty of up to SR3,000.

Three citizens were detained for cutting protective fencing and unauthorized entry into the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve. Fines for fence damage can reach SR100,000, plus compensation, while unauthorized entry carries a SR5,000 fine.

A citizen in Riyadh was caught with two cubic meters of local firewood for commercial use. Fines for using local firewood and charcoal commercially can reach SR32,000 per cubic meter, while transporting, selling, or storing carries fines of up to SR16,000.

Environmental forces also arrested a Nigerian resident in Makkah for burning waste, damaging soil, and polluting the environment. Penalties for such activities can reach up to SR10 million.

Another citizen faces a fine of up to SR3,000 for unauthorized camping in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve.

Action has been taken against the violators, and they have been handed over to the relevant authorities.

Citizens are urged to report environmental violations by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 and 996 elsewhere in the Kingdom.