Saudi Green Initiative rehabilitates 500,000 hectares of land
Saudi Arabia has planted more than 151 million
trees and rehabilitated 500,000 hectares of land as part of the Saudi Green
Initiative, which aims to plant 10 billion trees in total, Environment, Water,
and Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadley announced on Wednesday.
Speaking at a press briefing, Al-Fadley outlined
the Kingdom’s progress under the National Environment Strategy, highlighting
achievements in conservation, water sustainability, and food security — all
aligned with Vision 2030 goals.
The minister revealed the establishment of five
specialized environmental centers, including the Middle East’s first Regional
Center for Climate Change Studies and one of only four global Regional Centers
for Sand and Dust Storms. He also announced the creation of the region’s
largest environmental fund to drive innovation and support green projects.
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Key
Environmental Gains
·
Protected terrestrial areas
have expanded from 4.5% to 18.1% of the Kingdom’s territory, with the number of
national parks soaring from 18 to 500.
·
Marine protected zones have
grown by 260% since 2016, leading to the reintroduction of over 8,000
endangered species.
·
Air quality is now
monitored by 240 stations, while a national marine program enhances oil spill
detection and response.
·
Advanced meteorological
systems now cover the entire Kingdom, supporting cloud‑seeding efforts that
added 6.4 million cubic meters of rainfall.
Water
Sustainability Efforts
Saudi Arabia continues to lead globally in water management. The Kingdom is
constructing 1,000 rainwater harvesting dams with an annual
capacity of 4 million cubic meters. Strategic water storage capacity has risen
by 600%, and water reuse now accounts for 32% of total usage. The country also
doubled its desalinated water production to 16.6 million cubic meters per day,
securing its status as the world’s top producer.
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The National Center for Water Efficiency and
Conservation saves 120,000 cubic meters daily, with plans to increase savings
to 300,000. More than 65% of water sector jobs are held by Saudi nationals, and
engineers comprise 97% of the workforce.
Waste
Management and Energy Efficiency
To tackle urban waste, Saudi Arabia has implemented 21 city-level management
plans and identified 330 investment opportunities valued at SR450 billion. The
goal is to divert 90% of waste from landfills by 2040 through grants,
incentives, and partnerships.
Energy consumption in the water sector has
halved since 2016, further boosting sustainability.
Agricultural
and Economic Achievements
Agriculture contributed SR118 billion to GDP in 2025, an 8% rise from last
year. Food production reached 12 million tonnes, with the Kingdom achieving
full self-sufficiency in dates, milk, and eggs, and near self-sufficiency
(70–100%) in key vegetables. Poultry and seafood exports also continue to grow.
Saudi Arabia remains the world’s largest date
exporter, with the General Food Security Authority safeguarding supply chains
for 11 essential commodities.
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Al-Fadley
emphasized that these efforts, along with 25 public-private partnership
agreements worth SR100 billion, position the Kingdom as a global leader in
environmental stewardship and sustainable resource management.
Source:
Arab News
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