COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Advancing capacity building through APPLIED TRAINING and COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, connecting science with local expertise to support biodiversity conservation.
Since 2023, more than 300 participants, including scientists, field guides, rangers, environmental officers, teachers, local technicians and community members, have taken part in 9 training courses and 14 workshops in Saudi Arabia. These programs develop practical skills in wildlife monitoring, species identification, data analysis, GIS and remote sensing, science communication, and environmental education, combining classroom sessions with field-based, hands-on learning.
Our school outreach programme has engaged 73 students and teachers across six schools, raising awareness of local environmental threats and promoting the conservation of native species.
Over the same period, participatory research and focus group discussions have enabled the integration of traditional knowledge and local perspectives into conservation planning. A total of 163 key informants, including livestock owners, farmers, traditional healers, and shepherds, have contributed to these efforts.
Altogether, nearly 600 participants have benefited from these initiatives, linking scientific training with community engagement to foster curiosity, strengthen practical skills, and cultivate shared responsibility for conserving arid and desert ecosystems.