Saudi Arabia Forges Greener Future with Ambitious Environmental Initiatives

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is restoring hundreds of thousands of hectares of degraded land impacted by natural and human factors, aiming to revitalize vegetation cover and enhance biodiversity.

 Land rehabilitation and vegetation protection are key components of the Kingdom's environmental strategy. This commitment is underscored by its presidency of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and is integral to its strategy to achieve the goals of the Middle East Green Initiative, Saudi Green Initiative, and Saudi Vision 2030. Central to these efforts is the National Greening Program, which enhances vegetation sustainability and expands green spaces. It leads a comprehensive strategy for afforestation and land restoration, coordinating efforts across sectors, providing technical support, and monitoring progress in tree planting and land rehabilitation.

 Through collaboration with partners, the program has rehabilitated over 500,000 hectares of degraded land, utilizing modern technologies like drone-based seed scattering and cultivating local plants to ensure sustainability. Additionally, advanced irrigation systems and rainwater harvesting projects support water resource management.

 The program also focuses on restoring ecosystems and implementing nature-based solutions. Its master plan aims to plant 10 billion trees and rehabilitate 40 million hectares in three phases, starting with 215 million trees and 2.5 million hectares by 2030.