RIYADH: An all-women team of Saudi environmental rangers has led the 5,000th patrol of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve in the Kingdom’s northwest.
Andrew Zaloumis, the reserve authority’s CEO, said that women are “breaking new ground” at the 24,500 sq. km site “one patrol at a time.”
Ranger teams play a significant role in protecting the environment, but are also involved in women’s empowerment efforts that are a focus of the reserve, Zaloumis said in a statement.
“Globally, women rangers are recognized as vital for conservation success, but gender inequalities and challenges persist,” he added.
“At Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, women make up 30 percent of our 183-strong Saudi ranger team — well above the global average of less than 11 percent.”
Women’s leadership is behind the success of empowerment efforts, he said, citing women in senior management positions and a specialized unit in social and economic development that allows local women to become environmental conservation leaders.
“We are building the next generation of conservationists, equipped with the specialist skill set necessary to conserve Saudi Arabia’s endangered wildlife and wild landscapes,” Zaloumis said.
The all-women ranger team, which was appointed two years ago, is paving the way for new career positions for women in the Kingdom.
Ghaida Al-Balawi, one of the rangers, told Arab News about some of the team’s achievements.
“The most significant achievement since joining the team has been successfully raising the level of environmental awareness among local and international visitors, as well as protecting certain endangered species such as the Arabian partridge and the hawksbill turtle. This was accomplished through our effective environmental protection patrols,” she said.
Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve contains 15 distinct ecosystems across its mountain ridges, life-giving wadis and Red Sea coral reefs.
The reserve launched a development plan two months ago, publishing a road map covering environmental, economic, social, cultural and tourism targets.
