The Environment & Wildlife
 The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia pays special attention to the protection and preservation of its natural environments and wildlife. In this regard, Article 32 of the Constitution stipulates that "the Government should endeavour to preserve, and develop the environment and protect it from pollution". In 1986, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz issued a royal decree establishing the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development (NCWCD), chaired by HRH Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, Aviation and Inspector General and Chairman of the Higher Committee of the Environment.
The NCWCD's strategy concentrates on the protection of wildlife, particularly the endangered species; issuing regulations and rules supporting environment protection and development; and promoting public awareness about the importance of wildlife.
The NCWCD is headquartered in Riyadh but has centers of activity throughout the country. The conservation body has been responsible for surveying, recommending and administering a large number of protected areas. The first national park was Harrat al-Harrah, which comprises a vast area of stony desert in the north of the country where ten different species of lark breed and where large numbers of sand grouse live. Other avian residents include golden eagle, long numbers of sand grouse live. Other avian residents include golden eagle, long legged buzzard, merlin, cream-coloured courser, little owl, and Saker's falcon. This was the last area in Arabia where ostriches lived, being seen here up to 1930. Other important designated nature reserves and protected areas are At-Tubayq, Jabal Aja and northern Hail, and the Gulf Coral Islands, with Special Nature Reserves already declared at Al Ha'ir, Hawtat Bani Tamim, Mahazat as-Sayd, Umm al-Qamari and the Farasan Islands. Meanwhile, the traditionally protected area, Hima al-Fiqrah mountainous region where leopard, wolf and ibex still occur, also receives administrative protection.
Wildlife highlights include many excellent places to observe bird life with a recent publication issued by Birdlife International (Important Bird Areas in the Middle East) listing 39 sites in Saudi Arabia and noting that over 100 sites have been earmarked for protection by the NCWCD. Marine life can be studied while diving both in the Gulf and Red Sea, with the former offering more shallow sandy and sea-grass sea-beds whilst the Red Sea remains famous for its coral reefs and deeper clear waters.
Efforts to breed and re-introduce into the wild several species of endangered wildlife, including Arabian oryx and sand gazelle have been successfully undertaken in Saudi Arabia.
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