Riyadh (UNA/SPA) - The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, in cooperation with NEOM, announced the discovery and registration of eight new species of rare local plants with limited distribution worldwide, in a move that highlights the ongoing efforts to enhance and protect biodiversity in the Kingdom.
This discovery is one of the fruits of the “NEOM Flora” program, which was implemented in two phases that included a comprehensive study of geology, environment, soil, hydrology of water bodies, and surface features in NEOM, embodied in NEOM’s commitment to preserving (95)% of natural lands; which enhances its ongoing efforts to document and protect the unique biodiversity in the region.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Agriculture, Eng. Ahmed bin Saleh Al-Ayadah, stated that the new plant species were registered and deposited in the National Herbarium, at the Seeds and Seedlings Center, and the Plant Genetic Resources Bank in Riyadh, pointing out the importance of this discovery in enhancing scientific knowledge of local plant diversity.
The clinic explained that the discovered species include, Bituminaria flaccida (Nábělek) Greuter, Cicer judaicum Boiss, Crambe hispanica L, Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC, Hyoscyamus boveanus (Dunal) Asch & Schweinf, Muscari longipes subsp Longipes, Phagnalon nitidum Fresen, Plantago sinaica (Barnéoud) Decne.
For his part, the head of the NEOM Reserve, Dr. Paul Marshall, stressed that the reserve’s work is to protect and rehabilitate natural habitats on a large scale, through the commitment of NEOM projects to support the reserve’s efforts in preserving nature, and that the “NEOM Flora” program is a unique model that highlights NEOM’s commitment to preserving and documenting the Kingdom’s natural heritage.
In a related context, Diaa Zidane, Senior Director of Environmental Architecture at NEOM, indicated that within two and a half years, (345) local plant species were documented, in addition to (28) rare species worldwide, including (8) plants that had never been recorded in the Kingdom before.
He praised the efforts of the NEOM team of scientists and researchers, indicating that this deep knowledge of local plants plays a major role in creating sustainable urban natural spaces in NEOM cities and projects.
It is noteworthy that the “NEOM Flora” program, which was launched in 2021, aims to study and document the environmental and natural characteristics of the NEOM region, with a focus on protecting natural resources and biodiversity, in support of its vision to become a global reserve that preserves natural heritage; thus contributing to achieving sustainable development goals.
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