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

More documents

Recommendations

Info

• Decreased application of strict Special Natural Reserve zones.. Conclusions The NCWCD has taken the first, necessary steps to public and community involvement in protected areas. However, it is as yet unproven that any kind of regulated grazing management is feasible or compatible with ecosystem recovery; the restoration of the larger mammal species remains problematic in areas lacking natural geographic boundaries without improved public attitudes and support; there are still no effective mechanisms for regulated public access to protected sites, and as yet few tangible benefits accrue to communities surrounding the majority of the NCWCD protected areas. The development of protected area tourism would be in keeping with the directions being taken by the NCWCD, and could be compatible with local expectations as well as a valuable means of educating the general public and gaining their support. 4 The area is variously known as Umm ar-Rimth (Mother of Haloxylon salicornicum), Saja, and Al- Hmar, depending on the exact area being referred to; I have simplified matters by using the name Umm ar-Rimth to refer to the entire area. 33
Introduction Chapter 4 Current state of the tourism industry in Saudi Arabia Whereas religious tourists have been visiting what is now Saudi Arabia for over 1000 years, leisure tourism within the Kingdom is a relatively recent phenomenon - arising from increased urbanisation; increased leisure time and expendable income, and improved transportation networks. However, to date due to strict regulation of entry and movement by non-Saudis, international leisure tourism is negligible and restricted largely to nationals from Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries. Nationally, lack of development for tourism; the absence of information on internal tourist destinations and facilities, in combination with fiercely hot summers,(Ady and Waller 1989, 1992) have resulted in over 3 million Saudis choosing holiday destinations outside the Kingdom each year - 83% of Saudi vacation time is spent in other countries (ATI 1999). A conservative estimate suggests that SR500 billion (U$134 billion) is spent on holidays outside the Kingdom each year; overall, tourism amounts to much less than 1% of the national economy, compared to 8% in a country such as France (ATI 1999). The need to support national business, and to limit this leakage of funds has focussed the attention of both the government and the private sector on the development of the Saudi tourism industry (Ady and Waller 1992; Ady 1996; CoC, Riyadh 1999; Adnan Al Saigh, Medina CoC, pers. comm.). Tourism, including nature-based tourism (Abuzinada 1999), is set to expand. So far this expansion has been development driven, led by the business sector, and with little evident consideration or mitigation of potential or actual environmental impacts (Seddon and Khoja 1999). In this chapter I review the state of the Saudi tourism industry, considering what types of tourism take place and, using the Asir Province as an example, where and when, and what sorts of facilities are available to tourists. Staying with Asir, I examine the evidence of environmental impacts of on-going tourism development. I then review the current administrative structures to assess whether these appear adequate to regulate the industry. I briefly look at the actual and potential role of international tourism, including expatriate residents and Muslim pilgrims, and consider possible future changes. I assess 34
Page 1 and 2: The Unfenced Desert
Page 3 and 4: Institute of Earth Studies Universi
Page 5 and 6: 4 SUMMARY The Unfenced Desert Towar
Page 7 and 8: from human use in order to conserve
Page 9 and 10: Chapter two reviews global changes
Page 11 and 12: Chapter seven sets out the framewor
Page 13 and 14: In 1987 the report of the World Com
Page 15 and 16: and more succinctly by the Ecotouri
Page 17 and 18: infringements, environmental damage
Page 19: • policies for the development of
Page 22 and 23: “Because of the abundance and exc
Page 24 and 25: Political, economic, social and env
Page 26 and 27: Arabian Standard Oil Company), stru
Page 28 and 29: ustard Chlamydotis [undulata] macqu
Page 30 and 31: would be declared annually during t
Page 32 and 33: Al Khunfah Protected Area The over
Page 36 and 37: the attitudes and awareness of a sa
Page 38 and 39: the Asir the number one summer holi
Page 40 and 41: government tourism body to co-ordin
Page 42 and 43: The next chapter looks in more deta
Page 44 and 45: Chapter 5. Public attitudes to wild
Page 46 and 47: sent copies of the questionnaire fo
Page 48 and 49: animals was chosen by 41% and 39%,
Page 50 and 51: There was little variation in the p
Page 52 and 53: Falcon 6.3% Cheetah 1.5% Camel 1.1%
Page 54 and 55: • not necessarily entail overnigh
Page 56 and 57: median 4. A total of 189 people ans
Page 58 and 59: Overall, 62% of people used private
Page 60 and 61: through the news media and may sugg
Page 62 and 63: accommodation. During vacations tou
Page 64 and 65: Each protected area can them be ass
Page 66 and 67: 3 = basic facilities absent, but re
Page 68 and 69: Summary of Tourism Development Asse
Page 70 and 71: ♦ Farasan Islands Summary Assessm
Page 72 and 73: ♦ Ibex Reserve Summary Assessment
Page 74 and 75: ♦ Mahazat as-Sayd Summary Assessm
Page 76 and 77: ♦ National Wildlife Research Cent
Page 78 and 79: Ranking 4/12 Category Group 1: High
Page 80 and 81: ♦ `Uruq Bani Ma’arid Summary As
Page 82 and 83: Area Rank Key Spp. Season Potential
Page 84 and 85:
departments of Planning and Protect
Page 86 and 87:
guides. The NCWCD should additional
Page 88 and 89:
• Tourism revenue should aid the
Page 90 and 91:
Topic 2: Training Questions to be a
Page 92 and 93:
• Universities Suggested structur
Page 94 and 95:
Other linkages: • Private sector
Page 96 and 97:
• It is necessary to ensure that
Page 98 and 99:
APPENDIX Review of NCWCD Wildlife P
Page 100 and 101:
Date of creation = year of creation
Page 102 and 103:
PA Infrastructure Border demarcatio
Page 104 and 105:
Protected Area Al-Khunfah Administr
Page 106 and 107:
permanent concrete structure based
Page 108 and 109:
Protected Area At-Tubayq Administra
Page 110 and 111:
during these period should be minim
Page 112 and 113:
Nearest national sealed road : The
Page 114 and 115:
Protected Area Farasan Islands Admi
Page 116 and 117:
and humid in summer, spring - winte
Page 118 and 119:
Nearest towns (150 km radius) : Far
Page 120 and 121:
Protected Area Harrat al-Harrah Adm
Page 122 and 123:
eastern Cape in southern Africa. It
Page 124 and 125:
Other patrols : The NCWCD Aviation
Page 126 and 127:
Cultural/historical : 3 Facilities
Page 128 and 129:
Cultural Features Traditional uses
Page 130 and 131:
Potential activities : Driven tours
Page 132 and 133:
dorcas, reem and idmi gazelles, and
Page 134 and 135:
Sensitivity / security : Safe for v
Page 136 and 137:
The area’s designation allows for
Page 138 and 139:
Key seasons : Re-established houbar
Page 140 and 141:
Local communities involvement : Som
Page 142 and 143:
Protected Area Majami’ al-Hadb Ad
Page 144 and 145:
Threats to integrity : Unregulated
Page 146 and 147:
Protected Area National Wildlife Re
Page 148 and 149:
Responsibilities : Captive-breeding
Page 150 and 151:
Wildlife : 1 Cultural/historical :
Page 152 and 153:
151 Water : Some permanent water se
Page 154 and 155:
Other Stakeholders Local community
Page 156 and 157:
155
Page 158 and 159:
Cultural Features Traditional uses
Page 160 and 161:
Administrative features Category :
Page 162 and 163:
Ranger chain of command : Day-to-da
Page 164 and 165:
Category Group 1: High priority for
Page 166 and 167:
Child & Grainger 1990; Fisher et al
Page 168 and 169:
167 Al-Dubyani, A. 2000. Kingdom to
Page 170 and 171:
169 Child, G. 1989. Socio-economic
Page 172 and 173:
171 Green, A. A. 1984b. Wildlife re
Page 174 and 175:
173 Richter, L. K. (Eds). Tourism E
Page 176 and 177:
175 Powell, E. A. 1999. Saudi Arabi
Page 178 and 179:
177 Seddon, P. J., Abuzinada, A. H.
show all

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

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?