The role of protected areas in conserving biological diversity in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia

As elsewhere in the world, the loss of biodiversity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is due above all to economic factors. This is especially true where low values are given to biodiversity and ecological functions such as rangeland and watershed protection, nutrient cycling, pollution control, soil formation and photosynthesis. The threats to ecosystem structure and function are basically the same as those which threaten species. In Saudi Arabia emphasis is given to in-situ conservation which aims to maintain and recover viable populations of wild species in nature within their known natural range. This is being achieved through a system of protected areas and captive breeding programmes.