Riyadh, King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority said the reserve was registered on the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), which is a main step for it to join the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas.

According to the authority, the reserve registration was made in cooperation with the National Centre for Wildlife, in its capacity as the national body responsible for identifying and registering reserves on the WDPA. This step contributes to enhancing the Kingdom's emergence in specialized global databases, and highlights the national efforts supported by wise leadership in environmental protection and sustainability.

WDPA, launched in 1981, is the world's most comprehensive database on protected areas; it is a joint UNEP-IUCN project managed by the UN Environment Program World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), carried out in collaboration with governments, NGOs and the academia, where the database is updated monthly.

The registration of the authority on WDPA reflects the commitment of the reserve to achieving the objectives of the "Saudi Green" Initiative launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, in March 2021, specifically stipulating raising the proportion of protected areas to 30% of the Kingdom's area by 2030. Currently, the figure stands at 16.2% of wild lands.

King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority became an IUCN member in September 2022 due to its efforts to preserve the natural resources of the reserve, restore environmental balance, empower and involve the community in the protection and development of wildlife, and for obtaining a "Regional and International Red List Resident" certificate, due to its endeavour to ensure the conservation of biodiversity.

Source: Saudi Press Agency