RIYADH: The use of drones has resulted in a 66 percent decrease in carbon emissions at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve, its development authority said on Sunday.
According to the authority, there has been a substantial increase in vegetation cover, which grew to 8.5 percent from 1.4 percent in 2018.
Spanning 91,500 sq. km, the park is the second-largest royal reserve, home to 138 wildlife species and 179 plant species. It is known for its rich ecology, stunning landscapes and heritage sites.
The reserve pioneered a groundbreaking environmental protection and monitoring project by using 40 drones to bolster surveillance of illegal activities such as logging and overgrazing.
This has notably improved the operational effectiveness of environmental security and protection teams while also contributing to training environmental observers and rangers.
According to the authority, advanced technologies are used to decrease carbon emissions and support the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative by phasing out fossil fuel-powered four-wheel-drive vehicles and replacing them with drones.
This helps improve environmental protection and access to rugged terrain while facilitating the distribution of seeds across vast areas.
