The Unfenced Desert Towards a strategy for eco ... - Nwrc.gov.sa

PA Infrastructure
Border demarcation : Until 1998 the border was marked by a series of
irregularly spaced white barrels. From 1998 a ditch/dike system was constructed
along the southern, eastern and parts of the northern boundaries, effectively
channelling all ground traffic via ranger camps.
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Rangers/other staff : Between 25 and 30 rangers. All ranger camps have a
cook with two normally at the main camp; total nine cooks. Two mechanics are based
full-time at the main camp and are responsible for servicing of all vehicles and
generators in the reserve.
Responsibilities of rangers : NCWCD rangers primarily undertake patrols of the
reserve's boundaries and interior, and secondarily provide supervision of visiting
groups, and assistance with broader monitoring and research programmes as
required, including liaison with scientific staff and aerial patrols; maintenance of
camps and reporting of incidental wildlife sightings;. NCWCD rangers are not officially
empowered to arrest or detain offenders, nor to confiscate property.
Ranger chain of command : Day-to-day management of rangers camp structures
is carried out by the head ranger or his deputy, under authority of NCWCD head
office staff in Riyadh. The research camp at Shamma is maintained by NWRC, with
assistance from the rangers.
Camps and other buildings : Buildings in Harrat al-Harrah are used for housing
staff, for administration and for maintenance and research. There are three
permanent buildings in the reserve, all at Nimr: the main ranger station, Head Ranger
family housing, and a workshop.
There are ten camps in total: new Nimr, old Nimr, Liss, Abusada, Gilta, Rushaydah,
Thayat, Hadran, Erronibayat, and Shamma. New Nimr, Thayat and Liss have
permanent structures; all other camps consist of portabins and tents. Old Nimr has
been abandoned and is in poor repair.
Tracks and roads : The reserve has no sealed roads. Movement
between camps is primarily along major unsealed tracks which run around the
periphery of the reserve, avoiding the rocky areas within. Movement within the
reserve is along unsealed tracks, some marginal and subject to erosion and washout.
Main highways linking the towns of Turaif with Qurayyat, Dowmat and Sakaka run
around the north, west and south sides of the reserve, within 60 to 120 km of the
reserve's borders.
Other facilities : Diesel-powered generators are maintained at each
ranger camp. These are required for the running of freezers, lights, computers,
repeaters, radios, air-conditioners etc. The research camp at Makman Shamma has
no generator, but runs basic lights from batteries charged by solar panels; other
power is provided by butane gas. There is a petrol tank at each camp, and water is
brought in by tanker from nearby wells outside the reserve.
Six authorised landing areas are maintained at camps in the reserve (see
Appendix), at both new and old Nimr, Liss, Gilta, Erronibayat and Shamma. These
are marked with tyres and supplied with a windsock. A number of alternative landing
sites are available to exerienced pilots authorised to use them if necessary; these are
generally on the large dry lakes throughout the area. In 1997 petrol tanks at selected
sites within the reserve to allow extended survey flights.
Maintenance of facilities : On-site maintenance is the responsibility of the
rangers and their support staff of labourers ad mechanics, with support from local
contractors and NCWCD in Riyadh.