IUCN Partnership

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have established a partnership focused on preserving the biodiversity and natural beauty of AlUla.

Safeguarding AlUla’s Natural Heritage

RCU and IUCN are collaborating to preserve biodiversity and promote sustainable development in AlUla. In May 2021, they entered a strategic partnership to protect AlUla’s natural heritage, aligning with RCU’s ambition to designate over 50% of AlUla as nature reserves by 2035, consistent with the Saudi Green Initiative.

Collaboration discussions with IUCN’s global headquarters and the Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA) helped RCU’s partnerships team craft a robust collaboration framework centred on scientific expertise, standards and assessments, capacity building, and advocacy and networking.

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A Strong Foundation

A Steering Committee with representatives from RCU, IUCN HQ, and ROWA was established to oversee the strategic direction of this partnership. In its inaugural meeting, the committee endorsed the partnership governance framework, setting a strong foundation for future success.

Thanks to IUCN’s support, significant strides have been made in executing a comprehensive work programme this year, marking substantial advancements in our conservation efforts.