Aseer Development Authority to act upon recommendations from the “Semi-arid Mountain Environment” conference
The Aseer Development Authority, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, sought to identify environmental priorities and targets, based on recommendations from the First International Conference on Semi-Arid Mountain Environment.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, along with the Emirate of Aseer, organized the first international conference for mountainous and semi-arid environments in September 2019. During the 3-day event, various sectors like environment, forests, urban development, and sustainable rural development were discussed through a set of worksheets.
The conference aims to preserve and sustain mountains by introducing economic resources and learning from global examples of developing these regions from an environmental perspective—all through effective international and regional participation.
In its closing session, the conference came out with several recommendations, most notably the following:
Sending a note of thanks and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Highness the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for holding this conference, and offering unconditional support and care to Aseer.
Utilising water from existing dams for sustainable water management and leveraging technology to conserve water.
Conducting a survey of the forests of the Aseer and learning from international experiences in this regard.
Urging the Ministry of Labor and Social Development to support cooperative societies, especially in villages and rural areas. Utilising the Agricultural Development Fund by covering all project costs to ensure the continuity of communities and their contribution to the development of this region.
Supporting farmers and agricultural workers by helping them use digital technology to market their products.
Reducing random urban expansion that causes a loss of vegetation cover, while adopting heritage urban patterns that reflect the identity and values of the region.
Preserving biodiversity in the Aseer region, taking care of rare species and protecting their habitat.
Conducting the requisite studies to ascertain the number of baboons and their areas of spread, and work to reduce their numbers by effective scientific methods.