Al-Ghat, March 01, 2024, Al-Ghat National Park has been honored with 'The Green Flag Award,' making it the first wild national park in the Middle East to receive this recognition. The award follows the implementation of various projects aimed at developing and enhancing the park, expanding visitor services, and increasing the vegetative cover in recent years.
Situated 15 kilometers from Al-Ghat Governorate in the Riyadh region, the park spans 34.5 square kilometers. It boasts clay soil that supports a diverse range of trees and wild plants, including Acacia, Artemisia, Ziziphus, Prosopis, Phoenix dactylifera, Salsola, and Lycium shawii, with over 200,000 trees and shrubs.
Al-Ghat National Park features numerous landmarks, including caves, rainwater waterfall sites, a deer reserve, rainwater harvesting terraces, afforestation sites, a valley stream, a museum, nurseries, the Tuwaiq Mountain lookout, valleys, and ravines. The park provides comprehensive services such as seating areas, restrooms, and a hospitality building. It supports activities like camping, caravanning, hiking, and honey production through beekeeping.
The Green Flag Award, originating from the United Kingdom and extending worldwide, recognizes high-quality green spaces with exceptional management standards. It evaluates areas such as national parks, public gardens, and green spaces that offer designated entertainment areas and comprehensive facilities for visitors' benefit. The award aims to ensure the provision of high-quality green spaces, promote good management standards, and exchange best practices in parks and gardens.
The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, on behalf of the Kingdom, worked to meet the required standards for the award and organized qualifying workshops. The Green Flag Award underscores Al-Ghat National Park's commitment to environmental sustainability and its role as a well-managed and high-quality green space for the community.
