Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia has unveiled an ambitious roadmap to achieve its monumental goal of planting 10 billion trees under the Saudi Green Initiative.
The announcement was made during the second annual MENA Climate Week, held for the first time in Saudi Arabia from October 8 to 12, 2023, in Riyadh.
The roadmap outlines a plan for Saudi Arabia’s various habitat zones to achieve maximum vegetation coverage. Additionally, it takes into account urban areas, highways, and greenbelts to ensure that trees are planted strategically, providing ecosystem services that benefit the health and well-being of Saudi residents, especially those residing in urban centers.
This will lead to increased tree canopy cover, reducing temperatures by at least 2.2°C and enhancing air quality. The Saudi Green Initiative is spearheaded by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
Reducing extreme heat and mitigating ambient air pollution are critical steps in addressing environmental hazards that affect urban residents globally. These issues are associated with various non-communicable diseases, such as respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses. Increased tree plantation and green spaces in cities are also expected to lead to lower CO2 levels.
As the implementation of this initiative progresses, numerous job opportunities will be created across the Kingdom, spanning tasks such as tree cultivation, seed collection, landscape preparation and maintenance, development of urban water reuse networks, establishment of new parks and protected areas, and the promotion of sustainability innovations, SPA reported.
Saudi Arabia’s tree planting target is one of the most ambitious worldwide, especially when considering the challenging natural conditions the Kingdom faces, with below-average rainfall, limited arable land, and a small forested area.
Originally set as equivalent to rehabilitating 40 million hectares of land, the target has been revised to encompass the rehabilitation of 74.8 million hectares. Planting 10 billion trees corresponds to 1 percent of the global greening target and 20 percent of the Middle East Green Initiative’s afforestation goal of planting 50 billion trees across the Middle East. Notably, this roadmap follows the planting of 41 million trees in Saudi Arabia between 2017 and 2023.
The roadmap is the culmination of a comprehensive two-year feasibility study conducted by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) and the National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC). This study involved collaboration with renowned multidisciplinary global and local experts.
The study’s objective was not only to make the 10 billion tree target attainable but also to incorporate sustainable irrigation methods and ensure that the chosen tree and shrub species are in harmony with Saudi Arabia’s native varieties and the selected environment.
Over 1,150 field surveys were conducted across Saudi Arabia as part of this study, including geospatial suitability analysis for vegetation cover, based on environmental factors such as soil, water, temperature, wind, and elevation. The study provided a thorough assessment of all potential sectoral domains within the Kingdom, utilizing science-based recommendations and cutting-edge technology.
The chosen roadmap will be implemented in two phases. The first phase, from 2024 to 2030, will focus on the environmental domain, emphasizing a nature-based approach. From 2030 onwards, phase two will be implemented, incorporating a more comprehensive approach with greater human intervention.
Saudi Arabia boasts a rich diversity of over 2,000 flora species across various habitat zones, including mangroves, inland marshes, mountain forests, rangelands, national parks, and valleys. By 2030, the initiative aims to plant over 600 million trees, rehabilitating approximately 3.8 million hectares of land. The restoration and protection of this natural biodiversity lie at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious goal of planting 10 billion trees.