Since 2019, KAUST Beacon Development (KBD) has been implementing terrestrial ecology baseline studies across the Kingdom, including large protected and semi-natural landscapes, supporting Giga and Mega development projects and Royal Nature Reserves alike.
Our programmes cover the full suite of receptors: flora, vegetation, habitats, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and bats. The aim is simple: build an authoritative evidence base that guides conservation actions, protection, restoration, and responsible planning ultimately supporting Saudi Arabia fulfilling Vision 2030 objectives.
We have a multidisciplinary team aiming to generate robust ecological data, describing habitat types, species distributions, and ecosystem condition across terrestrial environments and to make them directly usable for conservation planning, sustainable grazing, and development decisions.
Surveys are designed to capture seasonal variation (typically spring and autumn) and to cover the main habitat types present—mountain slopes, wadis, plains, rangelands, coastal zones, and marine habitats such as reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangroves.
Saudi Arabia’s terrestrial systems span hyper-arid deserts, steep wadis, karst, and human-modified zones. Many priority species are scarce, nocturnal, or cryptic, making them hard to detect with traditional surveys alone. Decision-makers need reliable occurrence and distribution data—fast enough to inform protected-area management and large development schedules, yet rigorous enough to withstand regulatory and scientific scrutiny.
To meet this challenge, KBD assembled a team of regional experts across multiple ecological disciplines, conducting multi-season fieldwork, combined with state of the art and proven field methods with modern tools to produce fast, defensible baselines.
Our surveys cover:
Bats (acoustic monitoring and capture)
Birds, including bird ringing for migration tracking
Reptiles and Amphibians
Freshwater fish
Mammals
Vegetation
Habitats
DNA Analysis to identify cryptic and rare species
Using systematic sampling points across all major habitat types, the surveys ensure full representation of the survey area biodiversity. Each observation includes detailed habitat descriptions, photographic documentation, and geographic coordinates, allowing for future comparative analysis and mapping.
This integrated, science-based approach provides a foundation for ecological characterization, habitat assessment, and restoration planning, making them some of the most comprehensive terrestrial biodiversity studies in Saudi Arabia to date.
A single programme approach—traditional field craft enhanced by modern tech—has turned hard-to-see wildlife into actionable intelligence for protected-area managers and major projects alike.
Clearer pictures of priority fauna. Camera traps and acoustic devices filled critical knowledge gaps for elusive mammals and bats, revealing where protection and monitoring should focus.
Science that accelerates delivery. AI-assisted processing and DNA verification reduce uncertainty and rework, enabling faster, defensible decisions for permitting, reintroductions, and mitigation.
Management-ready products. Species lists, distribution maps, and seasonal activity insights support protected-area planning, construction timing, and biodiversity KPIs.
Capacity built in the Kingdom. Field campaigns included training for Saudi ecologists, creating a pipeline of local expertise to sustain long-term stewardship.
Our focus in professionalism, excellency and attention to detail ensure that conservation and development decisions are guided by robust scientific evidence, enabling managers to make informed decisions, act proactively in protecting critical habitats and threatened species and improve the sustainability of their projects.
Robust ecological baselines provide the evidence needed to protect priority species, guide sustainable land use, and support confident planning and permitting across protected areas and major developments.
Multi-season ecological data providing a trusted foundation for conservation, planning, and permitting.
Hidden Biodiversity RevealedAdvanced survey methods identify elusive and priority species across complex landscapes.
Management-Ready OutputsClear maps and datasets that directly inform protection measures, restoration, and development decisions.
With a multidisciplinary team of over 150 professionals KBD combines local talent with global experts under one roof. Our mission is to drive transformative change and help achieve the nation’s Vision 2030 by providing strategic, science-backed solutions.
