RIYADH, 7 June 2005 — The Kingdom has decided to establish a national committee for Man and the Biosphere (MAB) to improve the relationship between people and the environment. The decision was made at a meeting of the board of directors of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD), chaired by Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation.
Others present at the meeting included Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal who is also NCWCD’s managing director, Prince Turki ibn Nasser, chairman of the Presidency of Meterological and Environmental Protection, Fahd Balghunaim, minister of agriculture, Dr. Saleh Athel, president of King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Dr. Abdul Aziz Abu Zinada secretary-general of NCWCD.
Explaining MAB, Dr. Abu Zinada said it was a UNESCO Program to develop the basis within the natural and the social sciences for the sustainable use and conservation of biological diversity, and for the improvement of the relationship between people and their environment. Dr. Abu Zinada said, “The MAB Program encourages interdisciplinary research, demonstration and training in natural resource management. MAB not only contributes to better understanding of the environment, including global change, but also to greater involvement of science and scientists in policy development concerning the wise use of biological diversity.”
In addition to the national committee for MAB, Dr. Abu Zinada said the board of directors had also decided to restructure the system of management in the Kingdom’s zoological gardens.
“The gardens in Riyadh, Jeddah and Taif will be re-designed to enable visitors to get a better idea of wildlife in the Kingdom and in other parts of the world.”
The board of directors also decided to establish a Saudi Society for Biodiversity in the Kingdom. “Under this program, we have plans to form clubs in every town and village to give members an opportunity to participate in the Kingdom’s conservation efforts,” Dr. Abu Zinada said.
The commission manages 16 protected areas in the Kingdom and the clubs will be established in areas close to them.
