Farasan Islands Reserve Joins IUCN Green List for Nature Protection
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced the inclusion of Farasan Islands Reserve, affiliated with the National Center for Wildlife, in the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, recognizing sites with effective and equitable management and ranking the reserve among a select group of global locations that meet international accreditation standards.
This international recognition is the result of the reserve’s success in applying sound governance standards and adopting planning and management methodologies based on the best scientific practices. It also reflects the reserve’s efforts to engage the local community in conservation programs, thereby enhancing the sustainability of natural resources and supporting the environmental and economic value of the region.
The IUCN Green List assessment is based on four main pillars: governance, integrated planning, management effectiveness, and the achievement of tangible results in nature conservation.
The listing carries strategic importance beyond symbolic recognition, as it contributes to improving the reserve’s technical management through adopting global standards in monitoring and protection. It also opens broader opportunities to attract environmental investments and international funding for scientific research, while placing the islands on the global eco-tourism map as a natural destination committed to the highest sustainability standards.
The Farasan Islands Reserve, one of the most significant marine reserves in Saudi Arabia, extends across an area of 5,657 square kilometers. Its archipelago comprises more than 266 coral islands distinguished by rich biodiversity, including 180 plant species, 150 bird species, and 230 fish species, in addition to being a natural habitat for the Farasan gazelle and mangrove forests, as well as a refuge for endangered species such as sea turtles and dugongs, alongside its notable historical and cultural sites.
With this accreditation, the Farasan Islands Reserve joins the group of Saudi reserves previously listed on the Green List, forming a national model that reinforces the Kingdom’s global leadership in sustainable environmental management.
