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Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve Reveals Five Species New to Global Science

The latest discoveries bring the total number of terrestrial species identified in the reserve to 791 - SPA
The latest discoveries bring the total number of terrestrial species identified in the reserve to 791 - SPA
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Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve Reveals Five Species New to Global Science

The latest discoveries bring the total number of terrestrial species identified in the reserve to 791 - SPA
The latest discoveries bring the total number of terrestrial species identified in the reserve to 791 - SPA

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has announced groundbreaking discoveries, including five species new to global science, three species previously unrecorded in Saudi Arabia, and 34 new global range extensions.
These discoveries bring the total number of terrestrial species identified in the reserve to 791. Although the reserve encompasses just 1% of Saudi Arabia’s terrestrial area, it is home to more than 50% of the Kingdom’s terrestrial species. The findings are the culmination of four years of intensive ecological baseline studies led by Saudi and international experts, SPA reported.
Chief Executive Officer of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve Andrew Zaloumis highlighted the global significance of these discoveries, stating: “At a time when the IUCN has warned that 28% of species globally are at risk of extinction, these discoveries underscore the importance of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve as a bioclimatic refugium. As climate change increasingly impacts traditional habitats, the reserve serves as a sanctuary for species. The iconic Wadi Al-Disah, with over 200 documented species, is a key site on UNESCO’s tentative list for the World Heritage Bioclimatic Refugia of Western Arabia. These achievements were made possible through strong collaboration between natural scientists from Saudi Arabia and 14 other countries over the past four years.”
Among the five species new to science are two reptiles and three plants, each with ecological and cultural significance. The gecko (Hemidactylus sp.) features distinctive brown horizontal stripes from neck to tail and white nodules along its back. This gecko preys on small invertebrates, such as mosquitoes, playing a vital role in pest control within desert ecosystems. The Hejaz black-collared snake (Rhynchocalamus hejazicus), a small, non-venomous species, is bright red with a striking black collar.
The three plants include the globe thistle (Echinops sp. aff. glaberrimus) from the Asteraceae family, which supports pollinators with its vibrant blooms and has historically been used medicinally for infections and inflammation. The mignonette (Reseda sp. aff. muricata), valued for its herbal properties, is commonly used in teas and perfumery. The hogbean (Hyoscyamus sp.) from the Nightshade family has a complex history, having been utilized as both a poison and in early anesthesiology and palliative care.
Since 2021, the reserve has partnered with organizations such as KAUST to conduct seasonal ecological surveys that document biodiversity and seasonal variations across taxonomical groups. To date, these efforts have recorded 461 plant species, including three new to science, one new to Saudi Arabia, and 11 global range extensions.
The surveys have also documented 240 bird species, including seven global range extensions, along with 39 reptile species, 18 bat species, 31 rodent and large mammal species, one amphibian, and one freshwater fish.
Senior Restoration and Wildlife Ecologist at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve Development Authority Josh Smithson remarked on the challenges of surveying the reserve. He explained that its vast size and ecological diversity required a phased approach, starting with high-value ecological areas and progressively expanding study sites. Eco-monitoring programs now complement this baseline work, enhancing the understanding of ecological functionality and diversity while informing reserve management plans.
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has published four peer-reviewed academic papers on its biodiversity, with four additional papers awaiting publication. The reserve remains committed to sharing its findings with the local and global scientific and conservation community.

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Tunisia Women Herb Harvesters Struggle with Drought and Heat

A woman harvests aromatic and medicinal plants in the mountains of Tbainia village near the city of Ain Drahem, in the northwest of Tunisia on November 6, 2024. (AFP)
A woman harvests aromatic and medicinal plants in the mountains of Tbainia village near the city of Ain Drahem, in the northwest of Tunisia on November 6, 2024. (AFP)
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Tunisia Women Herb Harvesters Struggle with Drought and Heat

A woman harvests aromatic and medicinal plants in the mountains of Tbainia village near the city of Ain Drahem, in the northwest of Tunisia on November 6, 2024. (AFP)
A woman harvests aromatic and medicinal plants in the mountains of Tbainia village near the city of Ain Drahem, in the northwest of Tunisia on November 6, 2024. (AFP)

On a hillside in Tunisia's northwestern highlands, women scour a sun-scorched field for the wild herbs they rely on for their livelihoods, but droughts and rising temperatures are making it ever harder to find the precious plants.

Yet the harvesters say they have little choice but to struggle on, as there are few opportunities in a country hit hard by unemployment, inflation and high living costs.

"There is a huge difference between the situation in the past and what we are living now," said Mabrouka Athimni, who heads a local collective of women herb harvesters named "Al Baraka" ("Blessing").

"We're earning half, sometimes just a third, of what we used to."

Tunisia produces around 10,000 tons of aromatic and medicinal herbs each year, according to official figures.

Rosemary accounts for more than 40 percent of essential oil exports, mainly destined for French and American markets.

For the past 20 years, Athimni's collective has supported numerous families in Tbainia, a village near the city of Ain Draham in a region with much higher poverty rates than the national average.

Women, who make up around 70 percent of the agricultural workforce, are the main breadwinners for their households in Tbainia.

- 'Yield less' -

Tunisia is in its sixth year of drought and has seen its water reserves dwindle, as temperatures have soared past 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas during the summer.

The country has 36 dams, mostly in the northwest, but they are currently just 20 percent full -- a record low in recent decades.

The Tbainia women said they usually harvested plants like eucalyptus, rosemary and mastic year-round, but shrinking water resources and rare rainfall have siphoned oil output.

"The mountain springs are drying up, and without snow or rain to replenish them, the herbs yield less oil," said Athimni.

Mongia Soudani, a 58-year-old harvester and mother of three, said her work was her household's only income. She joined the collective five years ago.

"We used to gather three or four large sacks of herbs per harvest," she said. "Now, we're lucky to fill just one."

Forests in Tunisia cover 1.25 million hectares, about 10 percent of them in the northwestern region.

Wildfires fueled by drought and rising temperatures have ravaged these woodlands, further diminishing the natural resources that women like Soudani depend on.

In the summer of last year, wildfires destroyed around 1,120 hectares near Tbainia.

"Parts of the mountain were consumed by flames, and other women lost everything," Soudani recalled.

To adapt to some climate-driven challenges, the women received training from international organizations, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to preserve forest resources.

Still, Athimni struggles to secure a viable income.

"I can't fulfil my clients' orders anymore because the harvest has been insufficient," she said.

The collective has lost a number of its customers as a result, she said.

- 'No longer sustainable' -

A recent study by the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) highlighted how climate-induced damage to forests had severely impacted local communities.

"Women in particular suffer the consequences as their activities become more difficult and arduous," the study said.

Tunisia has ratified key international environmental agreements, including the 2015 Paris Climate Accord.

But environmental justice researcher Ines Labiadh, who oversaw the FTDES study, said implementation "remains incomplete".

In the face of these woes, the Tbainia harvesters, like many women working in the sector, will be forced to seek alternative livelihoods, said Labiadh.

"They have no choice but to diversify their activities," she said. "Relying solely on natural resources is no longer sustainable."

Back in the field, Bachra Ben Salah strives to collect whatever herbs she can lay her hands on.

"There's nothing we can do but wait for God's mercy," she said.