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

Chapter 3
The land; the wildlife; social, political, economic and
environmental change; and a history of protected areas
in Saudi Arabia
“The destruction of the Kingdom’s wildlife and its habitats is an ecological manifestation…attributable as
much to socio-economic as to ecological factors, although there is no denying the susceptibility of the
delicate arid ecosystems to inappropriate management.”
Graham Child and John Grainger (1990)
Introduction
Much of the care and concern for the conservation of the Earth’s natural resources
focuses on the tropics - regions that may be characterised as having high levels of
biodiversity and low levels of economic development. In contrast, the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia can be characterised by its relatively low biodiversity and significant economic
wealth. On one hand however, the position occupied by Saudi Arabia, between Asia and
Africa, warrants concern over the state of its wildlife, while on the other hand, a large
Gross Domestic Product does not necessarily translate into effective and efficient
national conservation management.
In the following sections I will briefly introduce the basic geology, climate and wildlife of
Saudi Arabia, emphasising the unique features of the region. In a little more detail I will
then consider the massive political, economic and social changes that have taken place in
the last 70 years, and the inevitably impacts these have had on natural resources. Finally,
I will bring us up to date with a summary history of wildlife conservation in Saudi Arabia
and, by contrasting four wildlife protected areas, conclude with a review of recent trends
in protected area management.
Geography, geomorphology, climate and wildlife
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