KAUST Beacon Development (KBD) delivers practical, science-based training programs that strengthen national capability for wildlife conservation and environmental compliance. Two priority areas—desert wildlife handling and marine ranger development—were addressed through focused field training designed to build safe, ethical, and standardized skills. These programs support growing demand for responsible field practices as development expands across terrestrial and coastal environments.
KBD designed protocol-led, hands-on training built around KAUST’s welfare and HSE expectations.
Desert wildlife sessions covered burrow identification, status assessment, low-stress capture and handling, safe transport, standard morphometrics, and structured data collection. Training was delivered at multiple representative field sites to ensure realistic practice.
Marine ranger training combined classroom instruction with coastal fieldwork. Participants learned turtle morphometrics, nesting beach surveys, nest assessment and excavation, tagging procedures, and reliable, repeatable data recording. Additional modules introduced digital tools such as photogrammetry, geophysical surveying techniques, and remote-operated systems.
Across both programs, emphasis was placed on:
Clear do/don’t guidance for welfare and safety
Demonstrations followed by supervised practice
Standardized forms and measurement methods
Consistency and repeatability across teams and seasons
The training established a defensible, welfare-first capability for both desert and marine field operations. Participants gained practical competence, confidence, and the ability to apply standardized methods in real environments. Clear protocols and structured data practices improve reliability, reduce project risk, and support long-term monitoring and management.
By building local capacity through field-ready training, KBD contributes to stronger environmental stewardship, better-informed decision-making, and the advancement of national conservation goals.
Our trainings equip teams with practical, standardized methods to safeguard wildlife, enhance monitoring accuracy, and meet evolving environmental compliance needs.
Ethics, law, and protocols aligned with international practice.
Tools of the TradePhotogrammetry, geophysics, and ROV skills taught side-by-side with field methods.
Data That TravelsDigital models and structured records ready for archives, research, and management.
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.
