July 30, 2004

PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ: CONTRIBUTION AND ENDLESS SUPPORT TO HUMANITY AND THE NATURAL WORLD. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General was born in Riyadh in 1928, and received his early education in religion, modern culture and diplomacy along with his brothers at the royal court. Prince Sultan was appointed Governor of Riyadh in 1947. Much of his time, however, was taken up in assisting his father in the setting up of a national administrative system based on justice and the implementation of Islamic Shari'ah law. Prince Sultan became Minister of Agriculture in 1953 and Minister of Communications in 1955. In 1982, on the accession of King Fahd, Prince Sultan was named Second Deputy Prime Minister. Prince Sultan began public service when he was appointed Governor of Riyadh in 1947. In 1953, when the Council of Ministers was formed, he became Minister of Agriculture. In 1955, he was appointed Minister of Communications in which position he made a major contribution to the development of the Kingdom's road and telecommunications networks. At that time, he also oversaw the construction of the Kingdom's rail link between Dammam and Riyadh. In 1963, Prince Sultan was appointed Minister of Defense and Aviation, an appointment he still holds. In this role, Prince Sultan has presided over the development of Saudi Arabia's army, navy and airforce, providing the Kingdom with a modern, well-equipped and well-trained defense capability, based on a network of military cities across the Kingdom. Prince Sultan is also Chairman of the Board of Saudi Arabian Airlines, the Kingdom's national airline. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General, was awarded the Sheikh Rashid Humanitarian Personality of the Year Award, in May 27, 2003. The ceremony witnessed the opening of the new premises of the Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre, the organisers of the award. The Prince toured the centre in Al Barsha, and saw the care the handicapped children get. Prince Sultan, who is well known for his contributions to charities, was chosen based on a voting system encompassing the Arab world. Sheikh Ahmed said that 10,000 forms were sent to Arab institutions to choose the personality. "Around 53 per cent of the votes came back in favour of Prince Sultan," he said. The Sheikh Rashid Award, which was launched in 1997, has become a pioneering humanitarian project. Prince Sultan said he was very pleased with the award, and described the Rashid Centre as "a civilised humanitarian organisation created to cater to human needs, especially the children". Prince Sultan is also Chairman of the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs, an organisation committed to the service of Muslim communities and Muslim minorities around the world. He is the founder of the Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Charity Foundation, established in 1995 to provide social and health services and rehabilitation for the disabled. Prince Sultan also serves as Chairman of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, an organisation, which he founded in 1986 to promote the protection of the nation's indigenous wildlife. In addition, Prince Sultan is Chairman of the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs, an organisation dedicated to the service of Muslims and Muslim minorities throughout the world. Another organisation is the Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Charity Foundation, which was established in 1995 to provide social services and health care for the elderly and comprehensive rehabilitation programmes for the disabled. The programmes provide humanitarian, educational, social and cultural services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and around the world. Prince Sultan has chaired, or currently chairs, various committees, including the Supreme Committee for Education Policy, Council of Manpower, Ministerial Commi-ttee on Environment, Board of the General Enterprise of Military Industries, and the Higher Committee of the Offset Programme. He is also a major contributor to many charities and rehabilitative programmes for the handicapped around the world. The Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al- Saud Foundation crowns the many generous charities supported by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, whose benevolence is acknowledged within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and around the world. The positive dimensions and long term perspectives of this giving includes the construction and care of Mosques, continuing education and aid to the sick and needy. The Foundation undertakes the task of managing and coordinating a part of these charities for the benefit of the Kingdom and its Citizens. The Foundation's projects fall within four main categories; medicine, science, technology and education. With the completion of the Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Humanitarian City, a 1,200,000 square meter medical facility, the Foundation will strive to provide health and social care for the elderly, handicap and children with special needs. The Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Science and Technology Center is an innovative project under development that will provide opportunities for the Kingdom's and the Gulf's youth to learn about science and technology. Its programs are designed to make learning fun and interesting. This approach, in turn, enables them to play an effective role in the future of science and technology within the Kingdom. The city comprises a full-fledged center for medical diagnosis, 18 large and small operation theaters, a 250-bed rehabilitation center, a recovery center, a 150-bed center for the elderly, a child development center and an education and training center. The humanitarian city encompasses both in-patient and outpatient facilities. An extensive range of rehabilitation programs is available including services for pediatric, neurological, brain injury and spinal cord injury. The child development center provides an integrated educational and therapeutic program for 150 children who have special educational needs due to physical handicaps, developmental disabilities or complex health problems. The outpatient clinics encompass 13 clinics with 55 examination rooms and eight operating rooms. Important features of the outpatient clinics are the day surgery center and the cranio-facial surgery center. A conference hall, sports hall, staff housing and an administration building, supplement the city' facilities. The foundation runs a number of projects within and outside the Kingdom. They include the Sultan Science and Technology Center in Al Khobar, an innovative project under development that will provide opportunities for youth to learn about science and technology. In combining medicine, science and technology, Medunet (Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Medical and Educational Telecommunications Program), utilizes the latest state of the art telecommunications facilities. These facilities were created to provide access to medical research resources in cooperation with major universities and research centers around the world. In order to provide education and understanding of the Arab and Islamic culture, the Foundation established the Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Continuing Education Program at the Gulf University in Bahrain and the Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Arab & Islamic Studies Program at the University of California, Berkeley. Since its beginning on Shaban 20, 1415 (January 21, 1995), the Foundation has strived to promote humanitarian, educational, social and cultural services in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and around the world. The Foundation's programs encompass a variety of fields including medicine, science & technology, communications and education. Through its efforts, the Foundation hopes to improve the skills, ability, aptitude and understanding of those who's interest or needs fall within our programs. God willing, these efforts will grant individuals the tools necessary to reach their goals and aspirations. All of these aspirations are made possible by the generous support and continued direction of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al- Saud. As is known throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz maintains a sincere interest in the care of a sector of citizens who are dearest to him. This group includes the sick, the elderly, the handicap and children in need of special care during early childhood. In order to provide a tangible and meaningful way of assisting these people, the Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Humanitarian City was established by Royal Decree on 15th September 1996. This City was established to provide healthcare and rehabilitative services at the highest level of professionalism and craftsmanship. As the largest project undertaken, it crowns the many generous programs managed by the Foundation. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz laid the cornerstone of the City on 30/5/1417 (October 12, 1996). The City is set on one million square meters in Binban, a small community 30 kilometers north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia' s Capital City. The city occupies 200,000 square meters Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Science & Technology Center is one of the main projects of Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud Foundation. It represents another generous donation by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud to the people of Saudi Arabia. Prince Sultan genuine interest in the welfare and educational and scientific development of Saudi Arabia, and especially its youth, has initiated the idea of building a state-of-the-art science and technology center in the city of Khobar, located in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Prince Sultan also realized the crucial role that science centers do play in enhancing science education, as well as exciting youngsters about the fields of science and technology and ultimately encouraging them to make career choices in these important fields. The Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Science & Technology Center aims at providing all the necessary facilities that helps its visitors in educating themselves about science and technology. It uses interactive and hands-on exhibits that engage visitors and makes science learning a family, enjoyable experience. Its library and educational facilities complements its exhibits by offering programs and resources that educate the visitors about certain fields of science and technology in which they are interested. Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Medical & Educational Telecommunications Program. Medunet provides advanced technology solutions such as telemedicine and distance learning throughout the Arab World. By bringing the powers of modern technology, such as videoconferencing and internet access to the region, Medunet gives voice to the creative and intellectual abilities of many millions. Medical and educational resources that were once under- utilized in some regions and scarce in others will be made available through the Internet and via video- conferencing to communities across the region. Medunet deploys satellite, fiber- optic cable and digital microwave telecommunications facilities to provide access to even the remotest village in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This access will allow previously impossible information exchanges between individuals across the country or around the world. The following provides an outline of Medunet's objectives and services. We invite you to spend some time with us learn about our unique programs. Objective MeduNet is chartered to establish a state of art Health Information Network, the HealthNet, for unrestricted delivery of: Telemedicine Health Information Systems Distance Learning Content Providing (medical) services throughout The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Arab world for the coming decade. Concept Integration of Telecommunication, Computing, and Information technologies to interconnect and ensure the interoperability of : Major healthcare institutions, Educational establishments, and Administrative organizations, regardless of their physical and administrative diversity, and irrespective their geographical location. Environment STC development projects are aggressively building telecommunications infrastructure Administrative and technological diversity of healthcare institutions Implementation costs (running costs are expected to be largely offset by the benefits generated through the delivery of targeted telehealth services) Heterogeneity of required technology: in communications, information systems, prioritization of the services. Services Telemedicine Modalities Tele- radiology (DICOM compliant) Tele- pathology Tele- ophthalmology Tele- otology Tele- dentistry Tele- endoscopy Tele- cardiology Tele- psychiatry Video and Audio Conferencing Health Information Systems Health/ Hospital Information Systems are mission critical for MeduNet in that they determine the level of inter/ intra- institution integration. The success of HealthNet relies to a large extent on proper automation of major medical institutions of the Kingdom. MeduNet promotes state of the art solutions in Hospital/ Health Information Systems, to secure their successful implementation, and to guarantee their subsistence. To achieve this goal, MeduNet intends to assume the licensing, installation, maintenance, and training responsibilities for a complete Hospital/ Health Information Systems product line. Distance Learning Support and relay continuous education classes and medical events from external sources. Sponsor and organize training and education activities from local sources. Educational programs, from building a virtual medical school to developing on- line courses. Content Providing Host and provide access to healthcare knowledge bases (medical, pharmaceutical, research, etc.) Host general public healthcare information (use groups, open forums, etc.) Host and organize healthcare management and administrative support systems (electronic- office/ commerce, incl. Healthcare professional registries, custom CME programs, consolidated purchasing functions, etc.) Technology Sustain Audio/ Video/ Data Traffic between : Fixed Locations Terrestrial Links (metro areas, cross- country) Aerial Links (metro areas) Satellite Links (cross- country, cross-continents) Mobile Units : Satellite Links (VSAT) Fixed commodity interfaces MeduNet is building the HealthNet backbone. Major healthcare institutions are being interconnected through HealthNet. Hospital Information System standards are being settled. State of the art telemedical instrumentation is being introduced. Distance learning programs are being designed and tested. Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Arab and Islamic Studies Program The Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Arab and Islamic Studies Program at the University of California, Berkeley began on November 2, 1998. This 5 million US Dollar endowment funds a significant portion of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies' programs as follows: 1. The Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud Foundation Visiting Professorship. This one million US Dollar endowment will allow the University to recruit both long and short term visiting faculty from Saudi Arabia or the Arab world. These visiting professors will focus on Arab and Islamic topics. 2. The Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud Foundation Visiting Scholar and Graduate Fellows Program. An endowment of one million US Dollars will support visiting professional, postgraduate fellows and graduate students engaged in the study of Arab and Islamic studies. These topics will include languages, history, sociology, anthropology and other disciplinary perspectives. 3. The Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud Foundation Research Fund This one million US Dollar fund will support the research of faculty, visiting scholars and advanced graduate students. This research will focus on historical and contemporary Arab and Islamic studies in social science, humanities and professional disciplines. This will include library acquisitions, conferences and travel support. 4. The Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud Foundation Outreach Fund The public outreach efforts of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies will be supported by this one million US Dollar endowment. Annual conferences, public lectures, professional workshops and other related activities are included. 5. New Quarters for the University of California at Berkeley Center for Middle Eastern Studies. The Center for Middle Eastern Studies inaugurated its new office space on July 11, 2000 funded by the Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud Foundation. The Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Special Education Program The Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Special Education Program began in 1996 at the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain. The program mirrors the Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud Foundation's efforts to support institutions focusing on special education as an academic subject. The grant of 4.5 million Saudi Riyals supports the training of specialists in the field of rehabilitation education for the physically and mentally challenged. These students come from a variety of backgrounds in the six countries of the Arabian Gulf, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The co-operation agreement between the Foundation and the Arabian Gulf University outlines six areas of development. 1. To increase the number of special education faculty. 2. To support special education training courses for students seeking employment in the six countries of the Gulf. 3. To support research programs focusing on special education programs in the six Gulf countries. 4. To convene an annual symposium or workshop for special education specialists. 5. To fund investment in rehabilitation equipment for the special education department at the University. 6. To provide four scholarships annually in special education at the Arabian Gulf University. The Foundation scholarships have allowed ten Saudi students to join the special education program at the Arabian Gulf University. These students have specialised in mental retardation, learning difficulties and gifted students. Eight of the students have further qualified for masters degrees in special education while two have achieved higher diplomas. Thirteen students remain in the program, seeking their higher diplomas and masters degrees. In addition, several students have joined short-term courses in special education. The Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of California at Berkeley is proud to continue its Interdisciplinary Arab Studies Program made possible through the generous endowment from the Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Saud Charity Foundation of Saudi Arabia. This interdisciplinary program supports teaching, research, and public outreach on all Arab and related Islamic subjects with the objective of broadening the understanding of these subjects at Berkeley. The Program organizes these subjects around selected themes to be pursued by its faculty, students, and visiting scholars in multi-year cycles. Program Theme Throughout history, a large part of the world has been both influenced by, and in turn left its mark on Arab culture. While it is important to take cognizance of the rich contributions that Arab culture has made to world culture, it is equally important to realize that the strength of Arab culture has lain precisely in its ability to transform and change. Thus, rather than presenting tradition and transformation as dichotomies or conflicting processes, the theme of the Sultan Program for the years 2003-2006, instead suggests that transformations have been an integral part of, and are in fact embedded within the making of Arab cultural traditions. The theme "Arab Culture: Traditions and Transformations," is a continuation of the theme of "Arab Identity," which marked the first three years of the Sultan Program at UC Berkeley. The program's new theme hopes to encourage scholarship pertaining to the Arab world that works at the intersection of cultural studies and identity studies. It specially encourages those projects that focus on apparent ambivalences and polarities, and scholarship that could potentially lead to a richer understanding of the causes of conflict. As with the last three years, this program theme also cuts across disciplinary boundaries and is relevant to all of the social sciences, humanities, and professional fields. However, the program continues to place a special emphasis on, and helps integrate the specific insights of anthropology, architecture, history, literature, political science, and urban studies. Program Components To these ends, the Sultan Program supports a Research and Scholarship Fund, a Teaching, Acquisition and Publication Fund, and an Outreach and Conference Fund. The following call specifies priorities for the academic years 2003-2006. 1. The Visiting Professorship/Lectureship. 2. The Visiting Scholar/Post-Doctoral Fellowship 3. The Graduate Fellowships 4. The Undergraduate Scholarship Fund 5. Other Scholarly Initiatives The Sultan Program is also open to receiving proposals for conferences, workshops, multi media projects, web-sites, public radio and television projects, and collaborative and public outreach activities. The Prince Sultan Center for Environment, Water and Desert. The Desert Studies Center was established as an independent administrative unit affiliated with the Office of the President of King Saud University in A.H. 1406/1986, in accordance with administrative decree No. 12873 dated 25/10/A.H. 1406. This action emanates from the desire of the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to set up specialized research centers, particularly in a vital and important area concerning the prevailing dry desert climate of the Kingdom. The goal of establishing the Center was to design and carry out scientific research on desert development and resistance to desertification in the Arabian Peninsula, and especially in Saudi Arabia. Subsequently, the name of the Center was changed from the Desert Studies Center to the Prince Sultan Center for Environment, Water and Desert Studies, in accordance with the approval of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and President of the Council of Higher Education dated 17/3/A.H. 1421, of the decision of the Council of Higher Education No. 18/18/1421. This had the effect of adding goals and activities in wider areas of research of vital importance, most notably environmental studies in the broadest sense, with emphasis on water resources and the desert. The Center is presently affiliated with the Office of the Vice President of the University for Graduate Studies and Academic Research at King Saud University. Prince Sultan Center for Environment, Water and Desert Studies undertakes to achieve its goals by means of scientific studies and research, particularly in the realms of resistance to desertification, the preservation and organized use of natural and environmental resources, forestation and expansion of natural plant cover, forest and pastureland. The Center strives to develop its technical and research capabilities in remote sensing technology, and geographical information systems to support the research it sponsors, and undertakes a number of research and applied projects to study the desert environment in the Kingdom, making use of these technologies, in cooperation with concerned bodies. The Center has published numerous scientific works and informative bulletins; in addition, it carries out the collection and documentation of information, and supports scientific research undertaken by specialized units within the University directly concerned with the desert. The Center also seeks to develop ties and coordinate with organizations concerned with the study of aridity and the desert, on the local, regional and international levels. It has also participated in many of the University's scientific activities, particularly the periodic "University and Society Weeks", and has supplied seeds and trees to a number of organizations, and provided technical and scientific consultations to students and researchers, both within King Saud University and elsewhere. The Center has also organized many scientific conferences and symposia, and participated in numerous others, as part of its desire to organize and exchange information. Moreover, it has given special importance to promoting cooperation with governmental and private organizations, on the local, Arab and international levels, as manifested in it participation in a number of scientific projects, and its ratification of agreements of cooperation with prestigious scientific organizations which have similar interests. After having laid a firm foundation by virtue of the support and assistance offered by the University administration, the Center began to develop and expand its activities in accordance with the change in its designation. In this way, the area of its interests expanded to include the environment, broadly understood, incorporating such topics as the discovery of new techniques to increase water supplied at the lowest possible cost through applied studies and projects. In addition, the Center has adopted the Prince Sultan International Prize for Water, and is the headquarters of its Secretariat. The Supervisor of the Center is also a member of the National Consultative Board in the Ministry of Water. 1- Design and carry out scientific research relating to arid regions, particularly studies on the environment, water and desert. 2- Support scientific research on environment, water and desert-related topics undertaken by specialized divisions of the University. 3- Coordinate and cooperate with relevant bodies inside and outside the University in environment, water and desert-related studies, research and activities. 4- Collect and document information relating to the environment, water and the desert, and present it in an applied, directly utilizable fashion. 5- Utilize modern technologies especially remote sensing and geographical information systems in studies and research of the desert environment. 6- Organize conferences, meetings, symposia and workshops related to the environment, water and the desert. 7- Draw up training courses designed to prepare individuals qualified in fields related to environmental , water and desert studies, as well as remote sensing technology. 8- Provide technical advice and assistance to researchers and students within the University and elsewhere. 9- Publish research and topics relating to the research activities of the Center. 10- Support and develop the Prince Sultan International Prize for Water, through the General Secretarial of the Prize, located in the Center. An exhibition of paintings has been held in London in honour of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in appreciation of the special interest he has taken in nature conservation both in Saudi Arabia and internationally, and in recognition of his efforts to preserve the natural environment. The exhibition, entitled "Gifts of the Desert" featured paintings by the British artist Julian Fraser, which were inspired by his experiences of the Saudi and Moroccan landscapes after visits to both countries. At the head of the guest list was the Mayor of the City of Westminster, and a representative of British Aerospace, the company which sponsored the exhibition, as well as a large group of diplomats and British and international artists and members of the Arab press with an interest in arts and the environment. The event was held to honour the contribution and endless support given by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz for the protection of the natural world, and his help in saving a number of threatened species from extinction. Every day, human beings are losing irreplaceable living natural resources. The environment is exposed on a global level to a drastic reduction in the number of living species. This threatens the life cycle of the natural world because of the network of inter-relations between living creatures on the planet. The main cause of the extinction of these species is the destruction of their natural habitats as a result of human exploitation of the world's resources for a variety of development aims. Humans are consuming raw materials and destroying natural habitats at a rate which exceeds their ability to renew themselves. Since the beginning of the present age, 120 species of mammal and two hundred species of bird have become extinct. In the whole world of vertebrates and invertebrates, the number of species that have become extinct must be much higher, and may number in the thousands. In its September 1998 report, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation estimated that around 830 species of domestic animal were threatened with extinction. It warned that the threat to natural systems from the destruction of forests and the depletion of water resources, the increasing severity of environmental pollution, the reduction in the fertility of the soil and increasing desertification and other threats to the global environment were multiplying. The negative human impact on species of plants and animals makes it imperative that human beings give priority to the conservation of the environment. The year 1948 saw the foundation of the first international organisation to take up the cause of nature in the town of Morge in Switzerland: the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, with a membership at that time of sixty nations. With the increasing threat to the global environment many other such organisation have been formed, dedicating their efforts to the conservation of living species, and to saving species that are rare or threatened with extinction. In the town of Inskhan, near Agadir in southern Morocco the International Foundation for the Protection and Development of the Natural Environment was set up and funded by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Second Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Aviation and Inspector General in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This organisation is, by any standard, an outstanding example of an environmental protection organisation. Its aims include preserving Islamic values and the traditions of the Islamic heritage in the Arab region. It uses the latest scientific techniques to nurture and monitor wildlife. The International Foundation for the Protection and Development of the Natural Environment is only one of a series of activities in the sphere of nature conservancy undertaken by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, following in the footsteps of his late father King Abdul Aziz Ibn Abdul Rahman Al Saud and his other forebears. A brief look at the modern history of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reveals that the kingdom's late founder King Abdul Aziz began his interest in nature conservation when he collected together a number of rare desert animals, fearing that they were in danger extinction. He donated the animals to the San Diego zoo in America so that they could be cared for. The late King Khalid Ibn Abdul Aziz also established a special wildlife reserve which was transformed during the era of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz into the King Khalid Nature Research Centre. The centre looks after some 800 Arabian gazelles. In the last twenty years, the interest of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz in nature conservation has grown as has been demonstrated with the establishment of the Defence and Aviation Ministry's Meteorological and Environmental Protection Authority. After this, he took up the chairmanship of the ministerial committee on the environment, and the board of directors of the National Commission for Wildlife Preservation and Development. Many achievements in the field of nature conservancy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were quick to follow: the "Asir National Park" was set up in 1981, which became the kingdom's first nature reserve; then the National Centre for Nature Research in Ta'if was set up in 1986, and the Prince Mohamed Sudairi Centre for the study of the gazelle was established in Qasim in 1989. This is a research centre belonging to the National Commission for Wildlife Preservation and Development, which is concerned with the protection of endangered species of plants and wildlife in the kingdom. The establishment of nature research centres was followed by the setting up of nature reserves in accordance with the regulations on protected areas and the rules governing the hunting of birds and animals. These reserves monitor wild animal and bird populations in the kingdom, and are also involved in the reintroduction of species that had disappeared. The network of nature reserves comes within the framework of an ambitious national law aimed at safeguarding six per cent of the area of the kingdom. This area contains a magnificent sweep of mountains, valleys, steppes, coastal regions and islands, which contains animal and plant life that are distinctive to these regions. The commission divided the protected regions into five groups: special protection zones: nature reserves: reserves for the protection of biodiversity; reserves for the replenishment of exploited resources; and restricted hunting reserves. In the year 1419 A.H., the number of nature reserves reached fifteen, including three marine reserves: the Farasan reserve; the Um Al-Kamari islands reserve, and the Jubail reserve for marine conservation. The twelve land-based nature reserves are: the Harrat al Harrah reserve, the Al Khunfah Reserve reserve, the Al Tubaiq reserve, the Mahazat al-Said reserve, the Wu'ul reserve; the ; Orooq Bani Maaredh reserve, the Raidah reserve, the Majame Al-Hadhb reserve; the Taisiya reserve; the Jandalia reserve, the Tafud Al-Arik reserve and the Saja and Um Al-Wamath reserve. The Mahazat Al-Said reserve north east of Ta'if has a special importance because it was the first reserve selected as a natural laboratory in which populations of Arabian wild cow, gazelles, red necked goats (ibexes) and bustards could be reintroduced into their natural habitats, and where these animals could be observed alongside the other plant and animal life. The reserve was opened by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz in 1990 and there are now estimated to be more than 600 Arabian wild cows and over 800 gazelles and around 150 bustards. The Orooq Bani Maaredh reserve in the south western desert of the Rub' Al-Khali (the empty quarter) is one of the most important inland reserves because it contains over 75 species of plant and many rare inland animals and birds. The first programme to reintroduce the Arabian goat (ibexes) and the gazelle to their natural habitat without any enclosure was begun in this reserve in 1995 under the supervision of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz. The northern reserves (Harrat al Harrah, Al Khunfah and Al Tubaiq) are distinguished by their large population of gazelles, estimated at around two thousand, in addition to around 700 bustards and a large number of other inland plants and animals. The Raidah reserve in the Asir region is unique because of its dense plant life. The area is covered with a thick green cover of Al Arar trees, and is considered the most beautiful natural woodland in Saudi Arabia, in addition to a large number of bird colonies, such as the brown eagle, the Arabian woodpecker, the Moroccan falcon, the Asir magpie, and others. In the reserve an area was planted with the Al Arar plant to reintroduce this species into the low-lying regions. The Wu'ul reserve in the central region makes an ideal habitat for the Nubian mountain goat, whose numbers are estimated at around 600 animals. The gazelle has also been reintroduced into this reserve and there are an estimated 400 of these, living in harmony with the other creatures of the region. The Farasan reserve, on the southern part of the Red Sea, is distinguished by a number of coastal habitats, and contains a herd of around 1300 Farasani gazelles. It also provides ideal natural habitats for a range of other coastal species, including fish and rare sea birds, particularly the Nasari eagle, which is threatened with extinction. The water areas provide habitats for turtles and other rare sea animals and plants. The Um Al-kamari islands reserve contains many kinds of rare plant life, and is visited regularly by migrating birds, as are the Jandalia, Tafud Al-Arik, Saja and Um Al-Wamath reserves, which are visited by migrating bustards, and also have colonies of bustards which live there throughout the year. The commission plans to reintroduce more bustard populations into these areas in the near future. Thanks to the intensive efforts of the National Commission for Wildlife Preservation and Development under the close supervision of Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz Al Saud, leading Arab poets and writers could be again inspired to write in praise of the nature and describing the beauty of the wild animals and plant life in the kingdom's nature reserves. These reserves stand as beacons and places of outstanding cultural interest, bearing witness to the progress of conservation efforts in the kingdom and the success of its attempts to preserve the rich inheritance and special characteristics of the natural world in the Arabian peninsula. There's no doubt that the benefits of this conservation of wild life and their natural habitats in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are felt by everyone in the kingdom. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz therefore truly deserves the title: "Man of the Arab Environment", which has been awarded to him on several occasions, most recently in 1997, just as he deserves to have been singled out from among ten leading figures in the world for his global contribution in the field of nature conservation.