Saudi Arabia is hosting the “Hima” Protected Areas Forum, the first of its kind in the region, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture and Chairman of the Board of the National Center for Wildlife Engineer Abdulrahman AlFadli officially inaugurated the Forum and the accompanying exhibition, organized by the National Center for Wildlife in Riyadh.
The groundbreaking event is held from April 21 to April 24, and is poised to draw local and international participants, including representatives of local and international protected areas, educational institutions, major projects, companies, and non-profit organizations.
The forum’s agenda is packed with presentations and lectures by distinguished experts, scientists, local and international practitioners in the field of protected areas.
Discussions will highlight the role of the Kingdom’s protected areas in preserving nature and achieving objectives of the National Environmental Strategy.
The forum will discuss aligning local and global efforts to meet the 30×30 goal, which aims to protect 30% of the Kingdom’s land and sea by 2030.
It will also highlight the historical importance of protected areas in Saudi Arabia, protection practices rooted in the ancient Arabic culture, the role of marine protected areas in preserving marine ecosystems, and the importance of reintroduction programs of endangered species in ecosystem rehabilitation.
Topics of discussion will also include the significant role of protected areas in limiting the impacts of climate change and the economic and social benefits of protected areas.
#Hima a word derived from the ancient history of our culture – meaning areas that protect nature and natural assets – before the word became regionally and globally recognized. Recently, the Kingdom took the initiative to announce its commitment to achieve the 30×30 target for… pic.twitter.com/sAH7wxbxur
— المركز الوطني لتنمية الحياة الفطرية (@NCW_center) April 21, 2024
On the sidelines of the forum, workshops will be held to underscore the importance of community engagement in protected areas and its role in enhancing preservation efforts. Discussions will address ecotourism in protected areas, and the significance of innovations and technology in preserving nature.
Dr. Mohammed Qurban, CEO of National Center for Wildlife, said that the “Hima” Forum is part of the Center’s action plan to develop the national system of protected areas, in conformity with the Kingdom’s approach to protect critical natural sites for biodiversity.
He stressed the Kingdom’s commitment to the Global Biodiversity Framework, the National Environmental Strategy and the Saudi Green Initiative.
Qurban also emphasized on the importance of protected areas in environmental development, biodiversity enrichment, environmental degradation mitigation, ecosystem rehabilitation, carbon capture and storage, wetland protection, water conservation, groundwater replenishment, and biodiversity promotion.
He added that the social and economic benefits of protected areas include improving food security, providing tourism and employment opportunities, serving as seed banks and food sources, and creating great opportunities for private sector engagement.
The National Center for Wildlife, since its establishment in 2019, has been devoted to executing plans to address threats to terrestrial and marine wildlife, in line with its vision of achieving thriving and sustainable wildlife, biodiversity, and terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
