Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve Welcomes Fifth Ranger Corps
TDT | Riyadh
Email : ashen@newsofbahrain.com
On World Wildlife Day, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve celebrated the official induction of its fifth ranger corps, marking a significant milestone in its conservation efforts. A total of 66 new rangers—40 women and 26 men—all from local communities within the Reserve, successfully completed an intensive nine-week training program and have now joined the existing 180-strong ranger team.
The Reserve, renowned for housing the Middle East’s first and largest female ranger corps, now boasts a total of 246 rangers, with women making up 34% of the workforce—far surpassing the global average of 11%.
Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, underscored the critical role of rangers in fulfilling the Reserve’s mission. “Our rangers are pivotal to achieving the Reserve’s vision. These individuals, deeply familiar with the land, its flora, fauna, and communities, serve as the natural guardians of the Kingdom’s rich ecological and cultural heritage,” he stated.
The rigorous selection process saw over 18,000 applicants vying for a place in the program. Candidates underwent written and physical assessments, as well as multiple interviews, before securing a coveted spot. Under the leadership of Ali Albalawi, Supervisor of Capacity Building and Sustainable Natural Resource Use, the nine-week training covered essential conservation skills, including ecological monitoring, data collection, patrolling, cultural heritage management, tracking, fitness, self-defense, first aid, and 4x4 driving.
Ali Albalawi emphasized the significance of training local recruits, stating, “When the protector comes from the same place, there is a profound sense of responsibility toward the nature they cherish. These rangers are not just trained professionals; they are ambassadors of nature, deeply connected to their land and committed to conserving it for future generations.”
The newly inducted rangers will work alongside the Special Forces for Environmental Security and the Border Guard to safeguard the Reserve’s land and marine assets. Their responsibilities include monitoring ecosystems to guide conservation strategies, supporting animal reintroductions, managing wildlife populations, and ensuring that development projects comply with environmental and social impact assessments.
The Reserve remains dedicated to the long-term development of its personnel, offering ongoing training and career progression opportunities. Rangers can advance to leadership positions, contributing to the Kingdom’s rapidly growing conservation sector while supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 sustainability goals.
About Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve
Spanning 24,500 km², the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve stretches from the lava plains of the Harrats to the Red Sea’s coastline, linking major developments such as NEOM, Red Sea Global, and AlUla. Home to the Public Investment Fund’s Wadi Al Disah project and Red Sea Global’s Destination AMAALA, the Reserve is one of the Middle East’s most biodiverse protected areas, encompassing 15 distinct ecosystems. Despite covering just 1% of the Kingdom’s land area and 1.8% of its marine territory, it is home to over 50% of Saudi Arabia’s species.
As part of its conservation efforts, the Reserve is actively engaged in a rewilding program that includes the reintroduction of 23 historically native species, such as the Arabian leopard, cheetah, Arabian oryx, and Lappet-faced vulture.
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is one of eight royal reserves established by royal decree and overseen by the Royal Reserves Council, chaired by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. It aligns with Saudi Arabia’s broader environmental initiatives, including the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, further reinforcing the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainability and biodiversity conservation.
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