Reviving Nature: The Cleanup Success Story of King Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve

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King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority

by Taghreed Alsaleem, King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority

Workers actively removes and collects debris, with a bulldozer parked in the background assisting in the waste management efforts in the cleanup operation in KARNR.

King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority

Set over an area of 28,345 km², the King Abdulaziz Royal Nature Reserve (KARNR) is situated northeast of Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Extending to the Al-Arma Mountains and down to several meadows, valleys, and reefs, it mostly encompasses two regions: Rawdat Al-Tanhat, Al-Khafs, Noura, Al-Hqaqa, the western portion of the Al-Summan plateau, and the Ad-Dahnaa’ desert.

In 2018, the reserve was created to protect plant and animal species, and preventing poaching, overgrazing, and logging. Various kinds of plants, animals, and microbes cohabit in the reserve's varied landscape, including valleys, meadows, plateaus, mountains, plains, and dunes, among other features.

One of the significant achievements in the reserve has been the large-scale cleanup campaigns. Recently, a massive operation successfully removed 55,390 tons of waste from various reserve parts. This effort was part of a broader initiative to maintain the pristine condition of the environment and to ensure that the habitats remain conducive for wildlife.

Last update: 30 Sep 2024

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Context

Challenges addressed

Erosion

Ecosystem loss

Invasive species

Pollution (incl. eutrophication and litter)

Lack of access to long-term funding

Physical resource extraction

Scale of implementation

Local

National

Ecosystems

Hot desert

Theme

Habitat fragmentation and degradation

Invasive alien species

Species management

Erosion prevention

Restoration

Pollution

Waste management

Location

الخفس, Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

West Asia, Middle East

Impacts

The cleanup drive involved collaboration between KARNR and Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC), local communities, and volunteers, highlighting the importance of collective action in environmental conservation. Advanced technologies and traditional methods were employed to remove waste and manage it sustainably effectively.
Out of the 55,390 tons of waste removed, 2,249 tons were recycled, showcasing a significant commitment to sustainable waste management practices

This not only enhanced the visual appeal of the reserve but also improved the health of its ecosystems:

Increased plant biodiversity: Removal of waste reduces soil contamination, allowing native grasses and shrubs to recover, thus enhancing plant biodiversity.
Enhanced habitat for domestic and wild animals: Clean environments increase land capacity for wild and domesticated animals, providing safer and more abundant habitats.
Improved groundwater recharge: By preventing waste from clogging waterways and soil, more rainwater enters the ground, reducing surface runoff and improving groundwater recharge.
Soil health: Waste management improves soil properties and maintains an uninterrupted nutrient cycle when applied locally to cropland, vegetable gardens, or rangeland.

Beneficiaries