The first animals have entered NEOM’s Nature Reserve, marking the beginning of the first phase of its rewilding initiatives.
The project is a part of NEOM’s larger dedication to preserving 95% of its natural environment.
The National Center for Wildlife (NCW) furnished the animals, while OXAGON, NEOM’s logistical hub, assisted in their relocation.
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, NEOM, 15 December 2022: In northwest Saudi Arabia, NEOM, a sustainable region, has welcomed a special delivery of four native wildlife species to its Nature Reserve. The project, which was started in partnership with NCW, is the first stage of NEOM’s rewilding program, which is a novel and extremely ambitious strategy for protecting animals and showcasing the distinctive biodiversity of the area.
The animals, which include oryx, ibex, sand gazelles, and mountain gazelles, arrived from NCW in Riyadh in late October. To ensure their safety during the travel, NEOM enlisted the assistance of the supply chain and logistics team stationed at its OXAGON center. The newest residents of NEOM were placed in specially constructed enclosures for a period of time to acclimatize to their new surroundings and then released into the broader reserve. This is a crucial first step in NEOM’s intentions to significantly advance conservation on a worldwide scale.
The 25,000 km2 NEOM’s Nature Reserve aspires to host one of the largest rewilding programs in the world while also assisting in the delivery of the environmental and nature conservation components of Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), one of which is the NCW wildlife breeding program. The NEOM regreening and rewilding model will provide advantages for locals, visitors, and animals, and the knowledge gained will be applied to improve other sites in the vicinity.
Dr. Paul Marshall, Head of the NEOM Nature Reserve, said: “The wildlife release was a historical moment: this is the first time that oryx have walked the sands of NEOM for nearly 100 years. It was also a demonstration of our commitment to the protection of nature, which is at the core of NEOM’s vision. We aim to be at the forefront of redefining nature conservation and NEOM’s Nature Reserve provides an unrivaled landscape to support this aspiration. Through the establishment of a world-class protected area, we will be able to preserve 95% of NEOM’s land and sea for nature, and implement a science-based program of protection, restoration, and rewilding.”
Dr. Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the NCW, said: “Our partnership with NEOM aligns with the objectives of the national program for reintroducing endangered local species back into their natural ecosystems, one of the SGI initiatives. By supporting the Kingdom’s strategy for environmental conservation, this initiative contributes to sustainable development, promoting the growth of local ecosystems and ensuring their biodiversity. It also highlights NCW’s strong collaboration efforts with prominent local entities that share our goals.”
The animals’ arrival represents the beginning of NEOM’s larger nature restoration initiatives, which include a significant regreening initiative that establishes NEOM as a key player in the effort to restore wildlife abundance, reintroduce rare or locally near-extinct wildlife species, and guarantee that wildlife is protected from illegal hunting.
The goal of NEOM’s Nature Reserve is to offer a setting where new solutions to global issues like biodiversity loss and species extinction can be put into practice. NEOM will be at the vanguard of expedited efforts to conserve our natural world through innovative research partnerships, solution scaling, and technological acceleration.
