Imam Faisal Bin Turki Royal Reserve

Imam Faisal Bin Turki Royal Reserve is one of eight royal natural reserves in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, overseen by the Council of Royal Reserves. This reserve extends over three administrative provinces: Aseer, Jazan, and Makkah al-Mukarramah, encompassing areas within the Kingdom's territorial waters in the Red Sea. It is the third-largest natural reserve in the Kingdom and one of the richest topographically and geographically. In 2023, a Royal Order was issued to establish this nature reserve to protect the environmental and biological diversity in the Kingdom.

The Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Council of Royal Reserves, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud stated that the Imam Faisal Bin Turki Royal Reserve is one of several nature reserves developed and supported by the Kingdom to become a tributary for national development on all levels. This contributes to providing solutions for various environmental issues facing the entire world, maximizing available opportunities to preserve natural capabilities, wealth, and sites that distinguish the Kingdom's land, supporting scientific research across all fields, promoting the tourism and recreational sector, and protecting natural resources and its exploitation to achieve economic balance. He also pointed out that the nature reserve's biological diversity will contribute to supporting all forms of life within it, in the aspects of human health, air purity, mitigating the impact of climate change, and resistance to natural diseases, which will enhance the development of societies with humans as the main focus and the element of their development to preserve the authentic environmental and cultural identity.

Imam Faisal Bin Turki Royal Reserve spans 30,152.7 km, stretching over three administrative provinces and extending into the Kingdom's territorial waters in the Red Sea. This makes it a unique reserve encompassing the sea, coastline, peaks, planes, desert, and valleys. It is rich in animal, fish, and plant life and stands out for its cultural significance in arts and architecture. Its identity is deeply rooted in local traditions, with folklore reflecting the cultural identity of each province.

Imam Faisal Bin Turki Royal Reserve aims to protect nature and biodiversity in the Kingdom, achieve economic systems sustainability, improve plant productivity, and protect endangered species.

Furthermore, the reserve aims to achieve the sustainable targets under Saudi Vision 2030, which focuses on protecting and enhancing the Kingdom's natural environment. This will be accomplished through a comprehensive approach to ecosystems, preserving natural components, reintroducing native wildlife to each region, ensuring water balance and biodiversity, combating desertification, and promoting sustainable wildlife management.

Imam Faisal Bin Turki Royal Reserve contributes to increasing the percentage of royal reserves in the Kingdom from 13.5 percent to 14.9 percent, helping to achieve the targets of the Saudi Green Initiative to protect 30 percent of land and marine areas by 2030. Additionally, the reserve aims to preserve natural ecosystems and biodiversity and to restore and enhance the heritage and history that embodies the authenticity of the regions it encompasses.

The reserve encompasses approximately one hundred heritage villages that reflect the legacy and cultural depth of each province, contributing to sustainable national economic development, engaging local communities, and supporting them through job opportunities, promoting volunteer work, and providing exceptional ecotourism experiences.

Furthermore, the reserve complements efforts to conserve the wealth of the Kingdom's lands, improve the natural environment, vegetation, and wildlife, and promote ecotourism while mitigating overhunting, overgrazing, and deforestation. It also aims to maintain and increase vegetation cover and regulate movement within the reserves without harming villages, settlements, or citizens' properties within its boundaries.

Imam Faisal Bin Turki Royal Reserve is distinguished by its diverse topography and geography. It is the largest reserve with a varied plant cover. The total area of royal reserves in the Kingdom reaches approximately three hundred thousand km. It joins other royal reserves, including the following: Imam Abdulaziz Bin Mohammed Royal Reserve, Imam Saud Bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Royal Reserve, King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Royal Reserve, and King Khalid Royal Reserve.