NCVC Collaborates With Kew REACH To Advance Saudi Arabia's Environmental Sustainability Goals

The National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) has partnered with British consultancy Kew REACH to implement the first phase of their memorandum of understanding. This collaboration, initially announced during COP 16, aims to boost the National Greening Program through impactful partnerships that enhance knowledge transfer and support Saudi Arabia's environmental sustainability goals.

Kew REACH will play a crucial role in establishing baseline datasets, conducting thorough assessments, and setting planning parameters essential for the long-term success of both the National Greening Program and the Saudi Green Initiative. The consultancy will provide expertise in ecosystem restoration, seed conservation, sustainable land management, and strategic advisory services. Additionally, they will offer capacity-building and training support.

A key component of this partnership is the launch of a knowledge exchange program. This initiative allows NCVC researchers to gain practical experience at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in London. These gardens house over 8.5 million botanical and mycological specimens, representing about 95% of all known vascular plant genera and 60% of fungal genera.

Dr. Khaled bin Abdullah Al-Abdulkader, NCVC Chief Executive, emphasized that this collaboration will utilize Kew's renowned botanical expertise to restore degraded lands and promote environmental sustainability. This aligns with both the Saudi Green Initiative and the National Greening Program.

Kew REACH is a joint-venture consultancy offering comprehensive scientific and advisory services for urban, agricultural, and forest ecosystem restoration. Their approach is based on rigorous science, transparency, and precise data. The NCVC continues to forge strategic partnerships with government entities, private organizations, non-profits, as well as regional and international bodies.

Through ongoing projects aimed at expanding green spaces across Saudi Arabia, the NCVC contributes significantly to long-term environmental sustainability. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to develop vegetation cover and combat desertification throughout the Kingdom.

With inputs from SPA