Saudi Scouts launch environmental protection program at King Salman Park
the Saudi Arabian Scouts Association launched its ambitious national environmental protection at King Salman National Park in the Banban area, north of Riyadh. This initiative comes in response to current environmental challenges, aiming to enhance vegetation cover and raise community awareness of the importance of environmental sustainability, with broad participation from government and community sectors.
Field activity in the heart of nature
The event saw the launch of a comprehensive package of intensive fieldwork, with scouts, rovers, and scout leaders taking on the responsibility of preserving the land. Activities included large-scale tree planting to increase green spaces, thorough clean-up campaigns of natural sites to remove harmful waste, and the planting and scattering of seeds of native wild plants, contributing to the restoration of the region's ecological balance.
Alignment with the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative
This event cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader national context; the Saudi Scouts' initiatives are perfectly aligned with the goals of Vision 2030 , specifically the Saudi Green Initiative launched by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. These national efforts aim to combat desertification, reduce carbon emissions, and improve the quality of life.
The afforestation of King Salman National Park is of particular importance, as it represents a natural lung for the city of Riyadh, and contributes to cooling the atmosphere and protecting biodiversity, making the participation of scouts an important support for official efforts aimed at planting billions of trees in the coming decades.
Strategic alliance for a green future
The program was distinguished by embodying the concept of integrated work among state institutions, as the scouts were not alone in the field. Efforts were combined with the active participation of:
- Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
- Ministry of Education.
- Riyadh Municipality.
- National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification.
- The General Organization for Technical and Vocational Training.
This strategic alliance affirms that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility, and that uniting efforts is the best way to achieve the sustainability of natural resources for future generations.
Scouting education: Instilling values before planting seedlings
Commenting on the event, the Secretary General of the Association, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Mudaires, emphasized that environmental protection is not merely a passing activity, but a fundamental pillar of the global and local scouting curriculum. He noted that these programs translate the Scout Promise and Law into tangible actions that serve the community.
For his part, Dr. Majid Al-Manea, Assistant Secretary-General for Technical Affairs, explained that the field involvement of young people in these activities is a living educational experience. The goal goes beyond planting trees; it aims to instill values of belonging and responsibility, and to transform theoretical concepts of environmental conservation into positive daily behaviors practiced by the youth in their lives.
Sustainability of volunteer work
The event concluded with the honoring of the distinguished partners and scouting units, in the presence of the leaders of King Salman Wilderness Park, in a clear message confirming the association’s determination to make environmental care a constant and sustainable focus in all its future programs, so that Saudi Arabia remains green with the efforts of its people.
