Saudi Arabia Launches Protected Areas System Plan at the 10th Regional Conservation Forum of IUCN
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - 10 September 2024 - His Excellency Eng. Abdulrahman AlFadley, Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, and Chairman of the Board of the National Center for Wildlife (NCW), has inaugurated Saudi Arabia’s Protected Areas System Plan. The announcement was made during the 10th Regional Conservation Forum of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for West Asia.
The plan serves as a comprehensive roadmap for the creation and management of protected areas across the kingdom, aimed at achieving the “30×30” target announced in 2021. This ambitious goal seeks to protect 30% of Saudi Arabia’s terrestrial and marine areas by 2030 and is a key pillar of the Saudi Green Initiative.
Dr. Mohammad Ali Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, emphasized the importance of the plan during its announcement. “The plan includes an effective framework for establishing and managing protected areas, aligning with Vision 2030, the National Environmental Strategy, and the Saudi Green Initiative. It adheres to environmental, social, and economic standards set by the IUCN,” said Dr. Qurban. He highlighted that the successful implementation of the plan requires reinforced local and international cooperation between governmental entities and local communities. Clear governance mechanisms are essential to ensure sustainable management that aligns with global standards for biodiversity conservation and compliance with international environmental practices to achieve shared objectives. Dr. Qurban further explained that the NCW endeavors to harmonize national efforts in biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources with global targets by applying international standards and best practices.
The Protected Areas Plan underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment, represented by the NCW, to establish a national network of protected areas. This network aims to conservatively represent various ecosystem types, thus enabling the NCW to interact more effectively with institutions and partners.
Currently, Saudi Arabia has 36 protected areas, covering 18.1% of its terrestrial area and 6.49% of its marine area.