SGI Talks: Royal Reserves CEOs Emphasise Importance Of Humans And Nature Relationship

The third day of the Saudi Green Initiative Talks (SGI Talks) highlighted significant discussions on environmental conservation. Dr. Talal Al-Harigi, CEO of Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, and Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve Development Authority, participated in a session titled "From Desert to Sanctuary: Rewilding Efforts to Restore Saudi Arabia’s Wildlife." They explored the Kingdom's strategies for environmental protection and the crucial bond between humans and nature.

During the session, Zaloumis shared insights about the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve. This reserve spans 1.8% of Saudi Arabia's total area and is home to half of the native species across 15 diverse ecosystems, including volcanic mountains, wetlands, and seas. "We are currently in the fourth phase of environmental assessment operations. Recently, we discovered the 800th wildlife species and added many new species to scientific references, as well as to the Kingdom’s records," Zaloumis said.

Dr. Al-Harigi emphasised land reclamation as a key element in rehabilitating natural habitats. This aligns with themes from COP16 hosted by Riyadh under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). "First and foremost, natural habitats must be rehabilitated by working on land reclamation, where we can create suitable environments that ensure the growth and prosperity of native species in all forms, including plants, animals, and birds," Al-Harigi said.

Zaloumis noted that land reclamation efforts have led to unexpected discoveries. "It is amazing to see species that we thought were extinct. Thanks to land reclamation efforts and the restoration of natural habitats, we are now seeing species we never thought still existed. For example, wolves and hyenas used to live here, and they have returned to nature on their own," he remarked.

Both CEOs stressed local community involvement in conservation under Prince Mohammed bin Salman's leadership as part of Saudi Vision 2030 and SGI. Zaloumis highlighted: "We have formed the first two all-female environmental ranger teams in the Middle East, and they are currently conducting monitoring patrols in the reserve with high efficiency, given their ability to communicate easily with women in the community."

Dr. Al-Harigi added that a training program for tour guides was launched successfully. "We launched a training program specifically for tour guides. Three women from the local community successfully completed the program and have become certified tour guides, currently providing tours," he stated.

Upcoming Sessions at SGI Talks

The SGI Talks continue daily from 5 to 13 December at 3 pm within UNCCD COP16’s Green Zone at SGI Gallery. Today's session will feature Charlotte Magay, founder and CEO of Mukuru Clean Stoves, alongside Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud Al Saud, co-founder and CEO of Barakah app.

The discussions at SGI Talks underscore Saudi Arabia's commitment to restoring its natural environment through strategic initiatives involving both technology and community engagement.

With inputs from SPA