Saudi Arabia and International Mountain Day: Initiatives to promote vegetation cover

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia joined the international community in celebrating International Mountain Day , observed annually on December 11, through a wide range of events and field initiatives across the country's mountainous regions. These activities aimed to highlight the natural richness of the Kingdom's diverse landscape and raise awareness of the importance of mountains as a cornerstone of ecological balance and a habitat for unique biodiversity.

Global context and national interest

This celebration comes in response to the international call launched in 2003, when the United Nations General Assembly designated this date to raise awareness of the importance of mountains, which cover approximately 27% of the world's land area. Domestically, the Kingdom is paying increasing attention to its mountainous environments in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 Saudi Green Initiative , given the strategic importance of the Sarawat Mountains and other highlands as a source of water and vegetation.

National Center for Vegetation Development Initiatives

At the forefront, the National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification a series of volunteer opportunities that were met with widespread participation from the community. These initiatives were geographically distributed to include:

• Makkah Region: Efforts were concentrated in Wadi Makhada in Taif Governorate and Jabal Al Qamar in Khulais Governorate, where volunteers participated in cleaning and tree-planting campaigns.
• Al-Baha region: The events included Jabal Shada Al-Asfal in Qalwa Governorate, and Al-Ghouqa forest in Bani Kabir in Baljurashi, which are areas known for their dense vegetation cover.
• Jazan and Madinah region: Volunteer opportunities were organized in Al-Raith Governorate in Jazan, in addition to similar initiatives in the Madinah region.

Enhancing mountain tourism and quality of life

The activities were not limited to purely environmental aspects, but extended to promoting the concept of ecotourism and sports tourism. In the Najran region , the center organized a unique mountain climbing experience in Wadi Maghid, allowing participants to explore the area's unique geological formations up close. In Riyadh , an introductory visit to the heritage village of Ghamra in Thadiq Governorate was organized to connect the architectural heritage with the surrounding mountainous environment.

Strategic projects to protect biodiversity

These events are significant because Saudi Arabia's mountains are home to rare and endemic plant species. The National Center is currently working on implementing large-scale projects to ensure the sustainability of these ecosystems, including:

• Forest rehabilitation projects in the third and fourth phases.
• The National Forest Inventory Project aims to create an accurate database.
• Projects to combat parasitic and invasive plants that threaten native trees in Asir, Al-Baha and Najran.

These efforts underscore the Kingdom’s commitment to protecting its natural resources and transforming mountainous regions into sustainable tourist destinations that contribute to the national economy and enhance the quality of life.