Ibex Reserve becomes Saudi Arabia's first Green List protected area
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The Ibex Reserve has become the first protected area in Saudi Arabia to be included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) prestigious Green List. This recognition places it among only 77 protected areas worldwide that meet the union’s stringent criteria for effective management and nature conservation, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The National Center for Wildlife, responsible for overseeing the reserve, emphasized the importance of this milestone, noting that only a small fraction of more than 300,000 protected areas globally have earned a place on the Green List. The Green List program acknowledges outstanding protected areas for their commitment to effective and equitable management in conservation, offering tangible benefits to stakeholders.
For the Ibex Reserve, this international recognition is a testament to its exemplary management, which has been independently evaluated by experts. The listing endorses the reserve's efforts in preserving biodiversity, protecting ecosystems and contributing to sustainable development. Additionally, it underscores the reserve's success in providing valuable services to local communities.
The reserve’s Green List status reflects its accomplishments in critical areas such as governance, management, design, planning, and its approach to addressing social, economic and environmental challenges.
Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, said, “This listing reaffirms our commitment to preserving ecosystems and supports our 30x30 goal to protect 30 percent of the Kingdom’s land and marine areas by 2030".
Qurban further added that the center aims to register all national reserves on the Green List as part of Saudi Vision 2030, aligning with international conservation standards and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.
The Ibex Reserve, established in 1988 at the request of local communities in the Riyadh region, spans 1,840 square kilometers within the Tuwaiq Mountain range. The reserve is renowned for its diverse landscapes, flora and fauna, and is home to a thriving population of mountain ibex, gazelles, antelopes, hyraxes and various species of birds and reptiles.
This listing marks a major step forward in Saudi Arabia’s conservation goals and highlights the country’s growing commitment to protecting its natural heritage.
