Saudi Gazette report

TABUK — The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve officially welcomed its fifth ranger corps after their successful graduation from the reserve’s nine-week training program. Their joining coincides with the World Wildlife Day, that falls on March 3 every year.

The new recruits, including 40 women and 26 men, all from local communities within the reserve, joined the existing ranger team of 180 to further the reserve’s conservation work.

The 24,5000 sq.km Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, which stretches from the lava plains of the Harrats to the deep Red Sea in the west, connecting NEOM, Red Sea Global, and AlUla, is home to the Middle East’s first, and largest, female ranger corps. Of the 246 rangers at the reserve, 34 percent are women, well above the global average of 11 percent.

Reserve CEO Andrew Zaloumis said: "Our rangers at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve are pivotal to us achieving the reserve’s vision and mission. These local people, from across the reserve, know its land, its flora and fauna, and its communities. They are the natural guardians of the Kingdom’s rich natural and cultural heritage."

Over 18,000 applications were received. Candidates underwent written and physical tests and multiple interviews to win a coveted place on the reserve’s ranger training program. Run by Ali Albalawi, the reserve’s capacity building and sustainable natural resource use supervisor, the nine-week program provides the essential skills required to join the ranger corps. Modules include conservation management, data collection, patrolling, cultural heritage management, tracking, fitness, self-defense, first aid and 4x4 driving.

Albalawi commented: "I take great pride in training rangers from the local community in Prince Mohammad bin Salman Reserve. When the protector comes from the same place, there is a profound sense of responsibility towards the nature they know and cherish, making them more capable of protecting and conserving it. These rangers are not just trained to perform specific tasks — they are true ambassadors of nature, and I am honored to be part of fostering this spirit that connects people to their land and their role in conserving it for future generations."

The 66 new rangers will join the 180-strong ranger force, working alongside Special Forces for Environmental Security and the Border Guard to safeguard the natural and cultural assets of the Reserve, both on land and at sea. Their duties include ecological monitoring to inform conservation strategies, supporting animal reintroductions, managing wildlife populations, and overseeing development projects to ensure compliance with environmental and social impact assessments.

The reserve invests in its people long-term, with ongoing training and career development opportunities. Rangers can rise through the ranks to become team leaders or area managers, building an impactful career in the rapidly expanding conservation industry that directly contributes to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

It is noteworthy that Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is one of eight royal reserves established by royal decree and overseen by the Royal Reserves Council chaired by the Crown Prince. It encompasses 15 distinct ecosystems. At just one percent of the Kingdom’s terrestrial area and 1.8 percent of its marine area, it boasts over 50 percent of the Kingdom’s species, making it one of the most biodiverse protected areas in the Middle East. It is home to Public Investment Fund's Wadi Al Disah project and Red Sea Global’s Destination AMAALA.