Jeddah Hosts 27th Session Of Near East Forestry And Range Commission To Address Climate Change Challenges

The 27th session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission began in Jeddah, hosted by Saudi Arabia with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC). This event aims to address critical environmental issues affecting the region's forests and rangelands.

During the opening speech, an NCVC representative highlighted that forests cover over 42 million hectares, while natural pastures span more than 303 million hectares in the region. These resources are vital for millions who depend on them for their livelihoods and play a crucial role in biodiversity protection. However, they face significant threats from climate change, desertification, and land degradation.

The representative noted that globally, 40% of land is degraded, affecting around 3.2 billion people. This degradation is expected to cause a 30% rise in food prices and impact 75% of freshwater sources. Additionally, it threatens over half of biodiversity due to habitat loss and contributes to a 24% increase in carbon emissions from vegetation cover removal.

Saudi Arabia has launched ambitious initiatives like the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative to combat these challenges. These initiatives aim to plant 10 billion trees within the Kingdom and rehabilitate approximately 40 million hectares of land. An additional goal is to plant 50 billion trees across the region.

To date, more than 151 million trees have been planted through the National Afforestation Program in collaboration with various sectors. Additionally, over 505,000 hectares of degraded land have been rehabilitated as part of these efforts. These initiatives reflect Saudi Arabia's commitment to environmental sustainability.

The three-day session will explore advanced methods and integrated solutions to fully utilise forests and rangelands in combating climate change impacts. It will also focus on enhancing related food systems and supporting comprehensive sustainable rural development.

This gathering underscores the importance of regional cooperation in addressing environmental challenges. By leveraging collective expertise and resources, countries can work towards preserving vital ecosystems for future generations.

With inputs from SPA