The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added Saudi Arabia’s Harrat Uwayrid Reserve to the Man and the Biosphere Program (MAB).
The announcement came Wednesday during the 43rd meeting after the reserve met all the criteria required for registration.
Harrat Uwayrid is the largest nature reserve in AlUla Governorate among five other reserves. It contains 19 species of endangered animals and 43 species of birds, including eight species of prey, and the reserve also contains 55 species of rare plants.
The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) issued a statement announcing that all the documents filed about the reserve included a collection of data on wildlife present, natural and historical landmarks, and ancient human activity in the area.
They also recorded endangered animals and plant names, as well as documented human life and elements of the environment.
The Commission indicated that putting the reserve on UNESCO's program is an achievement of the objectives of AlUla vision stemming from Vision 2030.
It aims to balance the natural reserves in the AlUla governorate through programs to release wild animals and ensure re-vegetation.
The Man and the Biosphere Program is an intergovernmental scientific program that aims to establish a scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments.
It combines the natural and social sciences to improve human livelihoods and safeguard natural and managed ecosystems, thus promoting innovative approaches to economic development that are socially, culturally appropriate, and environmentally sustainable.
