Environmental achievement: Rehabilitating one million hectares as part of the Saudi Green Initiative
General and historical context of combating desertification in the Kingdom
For decades, the Arabian Peninsula has suffered from severe environmental challenges, most notably desertification, water scarcity, and sand encroachment, which have impacted vegetation and wildlife. With the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom adopted a comprehensive approach to environmental transformation. On March 27, 2021, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, launched the Saudi Green Initiative, marking a historic turning point in the Kingdom's efforts to protect the environment both locally and regionally.
A remarkable achievement: Rehabilitating one million hectares and planting 159 million trees
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has achieved an unprecedented national milestone in environmental protection and vegetation restoration, announcing the rehabilitation of its first million hectares of degraded land. This achievement was accompanied by the planting of more than 159 million trees across the Kingdom.
Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification, Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, affirmed that this achievement reflects the unlimited support of the wise leadership. He explained that the journey began with the rehabilitation of 18,000 hectares, then accelerated to reach 250,000 hectares in 2024, culminating in this million-hectare figure, which paves the way for achieving the goal of rehabilitating 2.5 million hectares by 2030, and the larger objective of planting 10 billion trees, equivalent to 40 million hectares.
Local and regional impact: Return of wildlife and a decrease in storms
The impact of the Saudi Green Initiative has not been limited to tree planting; it has extended to wildlife conservation and the reintroduction of endangered species. Thanks to the provision of natural habitats, the Kingdom's skies and royal reserves have become a safe haven for migratory and resident birds.
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Engineer Mansour Al-Mashiti, revealed the tangible impact of supporting programs such as the National Cloud Seeding Program, which has contributed to increased rainfall. This is expected to positively impact the reduction of dust storms by up to 50% in 2025 compared to 2024. This environmental improvement supports ecotourism, promotes green investments, and enhances the quality of life for citizens and residents.
International acclaim and a leading global role
Internationally, the Kingdom's efforts have garnered global attention. Environmental leaders at the United Nations and the Convention to Combat Desertification have praised this achievement, emphasizing that it demonstrates the possibility of restoring land even in the most challenging environments, and that collective action can transform challenges into real opportunities.
These achievements coincide with the Kingdom's preparations to host the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16) in Riyadh, further solidifying Saudi Arabia's position as a global leader in adopting nature-based solutions. At the conclusion of the events celebrating this achievement, participating national entities were recognized, and modern technologies used in vegetation development were showcased, demonstrating that the combined efforts of the public and private sectors are essential to ensuring the sustainability of resources for future generations.
