Saudi Arabia's COP16 President Highlights Rehabilitation Of Over 250,000 Hectares Of Land

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is making significant strides in environmental conservation, focusing on strategic planning to achieve its ambitious goals. Abdulrahman Alfadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, highlighted these efforts during a panel at the International Exhibition and Forum for Afforestation Technologies. The event was part of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

Alfadley shared that Saudi Arabia has already rehabilitated over 250,000 hectares and plans to plant more than 115 million trees by year-end. This is part of the broader Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to restore 40 million hectares of degraded land by planting 10 billion trees. These efforts are complemented by the Middle East Green Initiative, targeting 50 billion trees across the region.

Water management is a key component of Saudi Arabia's environmental strategy. The country has increased water recycling in agriculture from 500,000 cubic meters to 2 million cubic meters. The goal is to reuse 90% of treated water, promoting sustainability and reducing environmental impacts. Desalinated water now makes up 65% of drinking water supplies, with production costs reduced to a third of what they were in 2016.

The Kingdom's commitment extends to eliminating fuel burning for water production, which previously consumed about 300,000 barrels daily. Starting next year, this practice will cease entirely. Additionally, Saudi Arabia maintains an annual water budget equivalent to Egypt's Nile River share at 25 billion cubic meters.

Saudi Arabia is also focused on food security as part of its environmental strategy. The aim is to cut food waste from 33% to 15% by 2030. The agricultural sector contributes 14% of carbon emissions; reducing food waste can significantly lower this figure. The Kingdom has identified 11 strategic crops for local production and established SALIC for international agricultural investments.

These initiatives have saved approximately 10 billion cubic meters of water annually and set safe extraction limits until 2030. Optimizing crop selection based on water usage is another measure being implemented to enhance sustainability.

Private Sector Involvement and Protected Areas

The private sector plays a crucial role in achieving afforestation targets, contributing half of the efforts so far. Environmental organizations and green associations have expanded significantly within Saudi Arabia, growing by a factor of 25. This growth supports the broader environmental initiatives underway.

Saudi Arabia aims to designate 30% of its land and marine areas as protected zones by 2030. This target surpasses international commitments by over a year and a half, demonstrating the Kingdom's dedication to conservation.

The Kingdom's comprehensive approach includes circular economy practices like waste recycling and resource preservation. These efforts align with global environmental goals while addressing local challenges effectively.

With inputs from SPA