Riyadh: The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority has announced the implementation of updated grazing regulations within the reserve's boundaries through a comprehensive guide aimed at protecting vegetation cover and preserving natural resources and biodiversity. The authority launched version 5.0 in February 2026, building on measures that have been in effect since January 1, 2022, and reflecting an advanced institutional approach to managing natural rangelands and limiting harmful environmental practices.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the updated regulations organize grazing through official permits and specific temporal and spatial controls, while restricting grazing to designated areas according to their carrying capacity. This prevents random or excessive grazing that leads to soil degradation and the decline of vegetation cover. The regulations also specify the number of livestock permitted for each beneficiary in line with rangeland characteristics, ensuring the rational and sustainable use of grazing lands.
The updated version also takes into account the social and economic aspects of the local communities, including expanding grazing zones in villages and settlements within the reserve's boundaries, in addition to introducing grazing belts for areas adjacent to the reserve, while adhering to environmental considerations and relying on relevant scientific studies to ensure the sustainability of natural resources.
It added that environmental protection and monitoring teams oversee the implementation of the regulations around the clock through intensive patrols and modern monitoring systems, with legal measures applied against violators according to the approved regulations. The authority emphasized that organizing grazing represents one of the fundamental pillars of environmental protection within the reserve and achieving the long-term sustainability of rangelands, calling on all beneficiaries to fully comply with the regulations and instructions to preserve natural resources and enhance the reserve's position as an advanced national model in sustainable environmental management.