As part of the efforts of the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority to lead in the field of environmental conservation and nature preservation, the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority has focused on supporting scientific research, as accurate data and information about the reality of biodiversity are important tools that support decision-making based on scientific foundations. Hence, these regulations have been established to set the general frameworks governing the scientific research process in the King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve and the collaborative sharing of data with other entities.

The phrases and terms mentioned below - wherever they appear in these regulations - shall have the meanings specified before each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:

• The Authority: The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority.

• The Reserve: The King Abdulaziz Royal Reserve.

• The President: The Chief Executive Officer of the Authority.

• The Researcher: The person responsible for scientific research and its procedures and activities.

• Scientific Research: A systematic experimental investigative approach that follows recognized scientific methods in accordance with the ethics of scientific research in collecting information, recording observations, and objective critical analysis of that information or hypotheses by following specific scientific methods and approaches.

• Scientific Publication: Outputs or results of scientific research published in full or in part in scientific journals or periodicals, on the internet, or in books and reports, or innovations.

• The Permit: A document granted by the Authority before commencing scientific research activities.

• Wildlife: Wild plant and animal species and their habitats.

• Biodiversity: The variety and diversity of organisms at all levels, from genes to ecosystems.

• Natural Habitats: Locations where wild organisms live, grow, or reproduce naturally and are interconnected and integrated with the surrounding conditions.

The aim of these regulations is to enhance and regulate the scientific research system and build scientific partnerships, enabling researchers to conduct their research and scientific activities in the reserve.

The authority shall undertake the following for the purpose of applying these regulations:

• A- Verify the qualifications of the researchers and the team.

• B- Ensure the scientific justification and the anticipated benefit if the scientific research has been previously conducted.

• C- In the event that the collaboration results in a scientific innovation, the authority and the researcher shall have joint intellectual property rights.

• D- The authority has the right to suspend or cancel the scientific research and take the necessary legal actions in case of violation of the authority's regulations, the data confidentiality agreement, or research ethics.

The authority grants permission to conduct scientific research within the reserve through the authority's website, with approval from the President or his delegate, according to the following mechanism:

• 1- Submit the permission request within (thirty) days prior to the start date of the scientific research.

• 2- The applicant for the permission must attach the following requirements:

  • A- Permission request form.

  • B- Scientific research proposal.

  • C- Any other requirements deemed necessary by the authority.

• 3- The authority will study the request and notify the applicant of the status of the request within (15) fifteen working days from the date of receipt.

The researcher is committed to the following:

• 1- The highest standards of performance, ethics, and good practices in scientific research, and to be fully aware of the scientific research regulations at the authority while adhering to the relevant laws and regulations.

• 2- Preserving the environment, reducing environmental pollution, and exercising caution in not conducting experiments and research that may harm the environment and natural habitats.

• 3- Scientific integrity and accuracy in conducting scientific research and presenting and interpreting results with credibility and transparency, and not distorting or falsifying results and scientific facts.

• 4- Obtaining the necessary permits to conduct scientific research from the authority and relevant entities if needed.

• 5- Researchers in joint projects are committed to agreeing among themselves on the publication mechanism before submitting the scientific research to the publisher, informing partners of all their rights and obligations, mutual benefits, and withdrawal procedures at any stage, prior to the commencement of the scientific research.

• 6- In the case of dealing with confidential data that may be obtained (for example: information about the health status of animals, exact locations of rare animals and plants in the reserve, any results related to animal breeding sites), the researcher is committed to the confidentiality and privacy of this data, and is prohibited from using such data for personal benefit, for the benefit of a third party, or for any purpose other than the purpose for which it was collected, except with written consent from the authority.

• 7- Maintaining an accurate, organized, and documented record of the procedures followed and the results obtained, whether final or interim, and ensuring that it is subject to examination and revision by the authority.

• 8- Not publishing scientific research and presenting research results in the media or any other means without the authority's approval.

• 9- Upon completion of the scientific research, the authority has the right to the samples, data, and results, and the researcher may not use them in another research or for other purposes without the authority's approval.

• 10- Observing local regulations, laws, and international treaties regarding copyright and intellectual property protection.

• 11- Not withholding any scientific results or information from the authority.

• 12- Preserving the rights of the authority in the results of scientific and intellectual research and the funding entity when publishing the results of scientific research, and not exploiting it for advertising or any commercial or unlawful purposes.

The researcher is committed to the following when conducting research on animals:

• A- Ensuring the quality of performance and the scientific principles and regulations governing experimental practices on animals.

• B- The legal rulings and regulations related to animal welfare and kindness towards them.

• C- The scientific principles and regulations that govern experimental practices on animals.

• D- Limiting the number of animals to the minimum necessary to achieve the objectives of scientific research.

• E- In scientific research, all measures should be taken to prevent harm or pain to the animal subject to the experiment, using the minimum and necessary number of test animals, while attempting to avoid causing pain to the animal as much as possible.

• F- Releasing the animal subject to scientific research after its completion and ensuring its safety, and returning it to its original environment whenever possible.

• G- Considering that the expected results of the research and the anticipated benefits should outweigh the potential risks and harms that may be inflicted on the animal undergoing scientific research or on the environment in general.

The researcher is obligated to adhere to the following when conducting research on plants:

• A- The legal provisions and regulations related to environmental protection.

• B- To limit the number of seeds or plant samples to the minimum in the case of scientific research on endangered plants.

• C- To ensure that the expected results of the scientific research and the anticipated benefits outweigh the potential risks and harms that may be inflicted on the plant being researched or on ecological systems and natural habitats in general.

• D- To dispose of all waste in a safe manner that does not harm human health or the environment.

Researchers are prohibited from the following:

• A- Using endangered animals in research and experiments unless such research and experiments are necessary and have a positive impact on the breeding of the species or its conservation, with written approval from the authority.

• B- Introducing a wild animal or a plant that is foreign to the environment of the reserve into the wildlife there for scientific research purposes.

• C- Conducting research on endangered plants unless such research is necessary for the breeding of those plants or for their conservation, with written approval from the authority.

• D- Engaging in any activity that has a negative impact on the environment in the reserve.

1- The authority has the right to suspend or stop the research and prevent the researcher from conducting future research if it is proven that the researcher has violated any of the provisions of these regulations.

2- The authority is responsible for monitoring violations and imposing penalties in coordination with the relevant authorities.