The CEO of the Wildlife: Registering the 'Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve' center highlights its exceptional global significance and supports conservation efforts
“The CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, Dr. Mohammad Ali Qurban, emphasized that the registration of the Arouq Bani Ma’arid Reserve, which is affiliated with the center, on UNESCO’s World Natural Heritage list is an exceptional achievement. It marks the first site for natural world heritage in the Kingdom and the first registration in the region in 17 years. He pointed out that the World Heritage list is the most important list for natural heritage sites, and it relies on very precise selection criteria.
The CEO explained that the achievement reflects the unlimited support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and his Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, for the environment and wildlife sector. It also signifies the close cooperation between institutions responsible for managing natural and cultural heritage in the Kingdom.
He mentioned that the decision to register the reserve was made during the 45th annual session of the World Heritage Committee, hosted by Riyadh from September 10 to 25, which coincided with the Kingdom’s National Day celebrations. The registration reflects the Kingdom’s continuous efforts to protect and preserve its natural ecosystems and showcases their rich heritage and natural diversity in various regions.
Dr. Qurban further stressed the importance of including sites in UNESCO’s World Natural Heritage list. Registration confirms that the reserve is an invaluable asset, not only for the Kingdom but for all of humanity. Arouq Bani Ma’arid Reserve is considered to have exceptional value due to its unique characteristics that extend beyond national borders. It becomes of common importance to present and future generations of humanity. The registration contributes to the protection, preservation, and sustainable development of natural heritage with outstanding global value and helps pass it on to future generations.
He added that UNESCO’s World Natural Heritage list is one of the organization’s most significant lists, and registration entails strict criteria and conditions to assess the exceptional global value of sites. It requires the site to feature unique natural phenomena, exceptional beauty, and the most important and significant natural habitats for preserving biodiversity. The site must also contain unique geological formations and areas that provide habitats for exceptional plant and animal species. Registration ensures the environmental integrity of the site, effective management, sustainability, and future management plans.
Arouq Bani Ma’arid Reserve is located along the western edge of the Empty Quarter desert, covering an area of over 12,765 square kilometers. It constitutes the only major sand desert in tropical Asia, boasting the world’s largest continuous sand sea. The reserve’s unique environmental systems provide vital natural habitats for numerous indigenous plant species, including Ghada, Athamum, Tamarix, and several other threatened or endangered plants. It is also home to diverse wildlife, such as the Arabian Oryx, Arabian wolves, sand cats, sand foxes, striped hyenas, caracals, and numerous species of birds and reptiles, including new discoveries of invertebrates. The reserve is the only place on Earth where the Arabian Oryx lives within its natural range in self-sustaining herds.
Dr. Qurban concluded by highlighting that the Arouq Bani Ma’arid Reserve is an exceptional example of ongoing environmental and biological evolution for the ecosystems. It contains more than 120 registered plant species, along with dynamic sand dunes, Arabian Oryx, gazelles, and hundreds of other plant and animal species, some of which are endangered. The center’s experts continue to record new species, as recently, four new invertebrate species were discovered.
The National Center for Wildlife prepared the nomination file in partnership with the Heritage Commission, reflecting the close cooperation between institutions responsible for managing natural and cultural heritage in the Kingdom.”
For more information, you can visit www.ncw.gov.sa.