Ashraf AboArafe
The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority (KARRDA) works to manage wildlife and ensure its sustainability in accordance with best international practices and specifications, by implementing a periodic monitoring program for biodiversity. To evaluate the condition of the natural resources in the reserve, and know the factors for their improvement or deterioration, in addition to increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of its efforts in developing the reserve’s environment, preserving natural resources and their sustainability for present and future generations, and contributing to achieving the long-term strategic goals of the royal reserves.
The monitoring program used by the Authority contributes to identifying its biodiversity and providing information about the types of plants and animals that live there and the extent of their spread. Its data also provides information about the factors threatening them, along with determining the necessary measures to address or improve them. This is done by recording resident and migratory wild creatures and communities, while the results issued by the program help determine the extent of potential decline as a result of threats, in addition to identifying species threatened with extinction.
Through the monitoring and follow-up program, the Authority is keen to support the aspirations of the wise leadership and the Saudi Green Initiative, to combat the challenges of climate change, through sustainable management of the reserve’s natural resources. While five specialized experts from the Commission’s employees in wildlife are working on the monitoring operations, in addition to the involvement of 13 young national cadres; To transfer knowledge and upgrade their expertise in this type of specialized activities.
The Authority’s team succeeded in covering the different environments of the reserve in a scientific manner, ensuring that its entire geographical scope is represented, with no less than 25% of its total area, which included: “the southern part, including Riyadh and Al-Fayyad, the central part represented by Al-Dahna, and the northern part represented by the Al-Summan Plateau.” “Trips also take place seasonally, at a rate of four trips per year, ranging from 14 to 45 days per season.
The Authority indicated that it is still continuing its monitoring operations, and is currently working on evaluating the results of its plans and studying the analysis of the monitoring program data. To benefit from its outputs in developing protection plans, resettling fungal organisms, and identifying special species suitable for implementing afforestation projects.
