Rehabilitating one million hectares of land as part of the Saudi Green Initiative
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has achieved an unprecedented national and environmental milestone in environmental protection and vegetation restoration, announcing the successful rehabilitation of its first million hectares of degraded land and the planting of more than 159 million trees. This remarkable achievement falls under the umbrella of the Saudi Green Initiative, launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on March 27, 2021, which aims to plant 10 billion trees, equivalent to reclaiming 40 million hectares across the Kingdom.
Roots of Transformation: The Historical Context of the Kingdom's Environmental Efforts
Historically, the Arabian Peninsula has faced harsh environmental challenges, including an arid climate, water scarcity, and desertification that has led to the degradation of vast areas of land. With the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, the wise leadership adopted a new strategic approach that places environmental sustainability at the heart of development plans. These efforts have not been limited to addressing immediate problems but have extended to reshaping the relationship between humanity and the environment, paving the way for the launch of massive projects aimed at restoring ecological balance, protecting natural resources for future generations, and transitioning from a phase of consumption to one of resource development and sustainability.
Objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and Vegetation Development
His Excellency the 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 Kingdom's unwavering commitment to realizing the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative. He explained that the rehabilitation journey has progressed rapidly, starting with an area of 18,000 hectares, then jumping to 250,000 hectares in 2024, and ultimately exceeding the one million hectare mark. This success embodies a unique integration of governmental, community, and private sector efforts, which has contributed to preserving wildlife, reintroducing endangered species, and providing safe havens for migratory and resident birds.
Strategic dimensions: Local, regional, and international impact
This environmental achievement holds profound significance that extends far beyond the Kingdom's borders. Domestically, land rehabilitation contributes to improved air quality, reduced temperatures, and the promotion of ecotourism, as well as enhancing water and economic security. Regionally, the Kingdom offers a model for other Middle Eastern countries in transforming climate challenges into tangible development opportunities. Internationally, this achievement reinforces Saudi Arabia's position as a global leader in combating climate change and supports international efforts to curb land degradation, underscoring the Kingdom's commitment to fulfilling its international environmental obligations.
National efforts combined with technological innovation
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Engineer Mansour Al-Mashiti, pointed out that this green transformation was supported by innovative initiatives, most notably the National Cloud Seeding Program. This program played a vital role in increasing rainfall, which positively impacted afforestation programs and contributed to a 50% reduction in dust storms during 2025 compared to 2024. In the same vein, international environmental leaders, foremost among them officials of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, praised this achievement, which demonstrates that land restoration is possible even in the most challenging environments. They commended the Kingdom's pioneering role, especially given its hosting and presidency of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to combat desertification.
Honoring partners in success and looking towards the future
At the conclusion of the celebrations marking this achievement, national entities and supporting sectors that actively contributed to achieving the rehabilitation goals were honored. The events included a tour of the accompanying exhibition, which showcased the latest technologies used in vegetation development, rainwater harvesting projects, and the utilization of dam water. These ongoing efforts underscore the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to achieving its ambitious goal of rehabilitating 2.5 million hectares by 2030, thus paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future for generations to come.
