Saudi Arabia: The world's most extensive plant migration endeavor

Saudi Arabia: The world's most extensive plant migration endeavor

Red Sea Global's unwavering commitment to regenerative tourism goes beyond preserving the local environment; it aims to enhance it. A testament to this dedication can be witnessed at the gigaproject developer's expansive nursery, with the audacious goal of planting 30 million trees by 2030.

Grant Shaw, the Senior Nursery Director at Red Sea Global, proudly dubs this endeavor as "the single largest horticultural migration ever attempted in human history." The nursery, spanning 100 hectares or one square kilometer, has been operational for two years and is slated to expand to 180 hectares. Its primary purpose is to supply plants for the resorts within the Red Sea Global's Amaala project, a luxurious tourist destination on the northwestern coast of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia.

 

Red Sea Global introduces Thuwal private retreat, an exclusive private island

 

Currently employing 380 individuals, the nursery's workforce is anticipated to grow to 600 as it expands. The nursery plays a multifaceted role in supporting the Red Sea Project and Amaala, encompassing tasks such as importing plants and acclimatizing them before they are relocated to resorts, evaluating the feasibility of cultivating foreign plant species in the kingdom, and conducting research on the cultivation of indigenous Saudi plants.

Shaw notes the challenge of cultivating desert plants, which typically have low germination rates, around 5 percent, meaning that only five out of every 100 seeds planted will thrive. While not all plants can be cultivated successfully, there have been notable successes. For example, the Limonium Axillare, also known as Beach Lavender, has thrived in salty conditions. Additionally, native sedge grass discovered at one of the Red Sea Project's hotel construction sites has performed exceptionally well.

 

Red Sea Global's visionary approach to sustainable tourism and hospitality

 

The nursery is not limited to indigenous plants; it imports plants at a rate of about 15 shipping containers per day, carefully selecting species from a similar latitude to the Red Sea Project site to ensure adaptation to the local climate. However, the salinity of the soil presents a significant challenge, which Red Sea Global has addressed by establishing a facility to produce improved soil.

Water is a critical resource for the nursery, with the current supply consisting of treated sewage effluent (TSE) and reverse osmosis. As the population at the Red Sea Project grows, the reliance on TSE will increase to 100 percent.

 

Red Sea Global installs over 750,000 photovoltaic panels at The Red Sea destination

 

Among the imported plants are 50 olive trees with a history dating back to 115 AD when they were taken to Spain and planted during the reign of Roman Emperor Trajan. These ancient trees, estimated to be 2,000 to 2,500 years old, were purchased by Red Sea Global when they needed to be relocated to accommodate road construction. The olive trees were a significant investment, each costing €15,000 ($15,876). However, the nursery's most valuable specimens are two Australian Boab trees, priced at $85,000 each, with an estimated age of around 2,000 years.

Another exceptional collection is a set of Doum Palms, indigenous to Saudi Arabia and challenging to transplant due to their delicate long taproot. Approximately 45 years ago, a Thai collector obtained permission from the King of Saudi Arabia to transport young Doum Palms to Thailand. There, the trees were grown in large pots and hybridized with other species. Red Sea Global was able to acquire some of these trees and bring them back to Saudi Arabia.

 

Red Sea Global establishes Food and Farming Cooperative, uniting 3,000 local farms into Tamala Company

 

Grass is also being imported, with Red Sea Global opting to grow Zoysia grass instead of the regional favorite, salt-resistant Paspalum grass, commonly used on golf courses. This decision has proven successful, and the choice of Zoysia grass has set a new trend in the region, endorsed by golf course architects for its sustainability.

The diverse range of plants being cultivated will not only set the Red Sea Project and Amaala apart but also contribute to their lasting legacy. According to Shaw, "There is a lot of talk about the buildings that make up the project, but the real legacy will be the life that we are introducing."

Source: https://www.meed.com/