Al-Waol Ibex Reserve

Al-Waol Ibex Reserve is a nature reserve in the Riyadh Region, supervised and managed by the National Center for Wildlife; it lies about 120 km south of Riyadh within the range of the Tuwaiq Mountains [3].

The reserve covers an area of about 1,841 km² and is distinguished by a rich biodiversity that includes ibex, gazelles, foxes and sand partridges, alongside talh, samar, salam, sidr and ghada trees [2].

On 6 Rabi' al-Akhir 1446 AH, corresponding to 9 October 2024, it was inscribed in the Green List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, becoming the first reserve in the Kingdom to meet all the required standards and indicators [1].

Al-Waol Ibex Reserve lies in the centre of the Kingdom, about 120 km south of the capital Riyadh. It is an extension of the Tuwaiq Mountains within the Riyadh Region and covers an area of approximately 1,841 km² [3][2].

The reserve extends across the governorates of Hawtat Bani Tamim and Al-Hariq, the two governorates in which its first supervisory council was inaugurated [3].

The reserve is a large plateau intersected by valleys, ravines, rocky slopes and some sandy areas within the Tuwaiq Mountains range [2].

It holds species of wildlife, including ibex, gazelles, foxes and sand partridges, alongside talh, samar, salam, sidr and ghada trees [2].

Al-Waol Ibex Reserve is supervised and managed by the National Center for Wildlife, and is one of the most important reserves under its management [3].

On 19 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445 AH, corresponding to 25 June 2024, the National Center for Wildlife, in coordination with the Emirate of the Riyadh Region, inaugurated the first supervisory council for the reserve in the governorates of Hawtat Bani Tamim and Al-Hariq [3].

On 21 Dhu al-Hijjah 1445 AH, corresponding to 27 June 2024, the Al-Adiyah Center was opened at the reserve in the Riyadh Region [2].

The National Center for Wildlife released 20 Arabian sand gazelles and two tawny eagles at Al-Waol Ibex Reserve in Al-Hariq Governorate on 1 Rajab 1443 AH, corresponding to 2 February 2022, as part of its efforts to conserve endangered wildlife and reintroduce it [4].

The Center continues its programme of breeding and reintroducing wildlife in reserves and national parks, releasing more than 1,000 wild animals in the same season, after 785 animals were released in the previous season [4].

On 6 Rabi' al-Akhir 1446 AH, corresponding to 9 October 2024, the International Union for Conservation of Nature announced the inscription of Al-Waol Ibex Reserve in the Green List, making it the first reserve in the Kingdom to meet all the required standards and indicators and join the list [1].

The Green List comprises only 77 reserves worldwide, chosen from more than 300,000 reserves [1].

The inscription is part of the Kingdom's efforts to conserve ecosystems and achieve the goal of protecting 30% of its land and sea area by 2030 [1].

Al-Waol Ibex Reserve hosted a workshop entitled 'Citizens' Awareness, Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviour towards Al-Waol Ibex Reserve' on 6 Safar 1428 AH, corresponding to 24 February 2007. It was opened by His Highness Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Mohammed Al Saud, Secretary-General of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, at the Commission's headquarters in Riyadh [6].

Long-term monitoring programmes for the reserve's animal groups are carried out through fixed census records every two months and along defined trails 261 km long since 2000, while 40 cameras recorded about 77,000 images over one hundred days; these results were announced on 14 Rabi' al-Akhir 1436 AH, corresponding to 3 February 2015 [7].

On 15 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1445 AH, corresponding to 23 May 2024, the National Center for Wildlife launched the second hiking trail for enthusiasts at the reserve with the participation of the Darb Association, in the northern part between Umm Jas and Jabal Al-Makhrouq, 5,700 metres long in both directions and 1.5 km wide [5].

Q: Where is Al-Waol Ibex Reserve located? A: In the Riyadh Region, about 120 km south of Riyadh city along the Tuwaiq Mountains range [3].

Q: What is the area of Al-Waol Ibex Reserve? A: About 1,841 km² [2].

Q: Which body supervises the reserve? A: The National Center for Wildlife [3].

Q: What is the significance of the reserve's inscription in the Green List? A: It is the first reserve in the Kingdom to meet the standards of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and it joined a list of only 77 reserves chosen from more than 300,000 reserves [1].

Q: What are the most prominent wildlife species in the reserve? A: Ibex, gazelles, foxes and sand partridges, alongside talh, samar, salam, sidr and ghada trees [2].

Al-Waol Ibex Reserve combines biodiversity, scientific management, hiking trails and field monitoring programmes, and it was inscribed in the Green List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature as the first Saudi reserve to achieve this [1]. Related topics on the platform include Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve, Farasan Islands Reserve and Saudi Vision 2030.