Saudi Arabia’s newly established environment fund and environment centers were inaugurated on Thursday as part of the country’s sustainability strategy and efforts to ensure the protection of its environment and ecosystems.
The fund and five centers were inaugurated by Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, who is the minister of environment, water and agriculture.
“Establishing an environment fund aims at contributing to the financial sustainability of the environment sector and providing the necessary capabilities for its advancement, by contributing to supporting the operational budgets of environmental centers, supporting environmental programs, studies and initiatives, stimulating environmentally friendly technologies and improving environmental performance and environmental rehabilitation programs,” the minister said.
The National Center for the Development of Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification aims to develop and manage national parks, develop and rehabilitate vegetation cover in forests, protect local endangered plant species, combat desertification, in addition to conducting studies and supporting research related to vegetation.
The National Center for Environmental Compliance is concerned with monitoring the environmental compliance of all establishments that have an impact on the environment in all development sectors, supervising programs for monitoring sources of environmental pollution in addition to approving environmental impact studies, issuing environmental licenses for all development projects, and inspecting installations.
The ministry said the tasks of the National Center for Wildlife Development included supervising programs related to the protection and development of wildlife and biological diversity, as well as planning and managing protected areas and managing centers for the breeding and resettlement of endangered animals.
The National Center for Meteorology will monitor weather and climate conditions, prepare forecasts, provide airports, ports and other bodies with data and weather forecasts, and operate weather monitoring stations in the Kingdom’s regions.
The National Center for Waste Management will organize the waste management sector to improve the quality of services, enhance the level of capabilities and competencies, enhance the economic sustainability of the sector by stimulating investment and maximizing the participation of the private sector, reduce waste disposal in landfills by stimulating the use of best practices in resource recovery techniques.
Environment fund, centers inaugurated in Saudi Arabia
https://arab.news/v9jq6
Environment fund, centers inaugurated in Saudi Arabia
- Ministry aims to contribute to the financial sustainability, protect ecosystems
KSrelief signs agreement with Majmaah University
RIYADH: Saudi humanitarian aid agency KSrelief signed on Thursday a deal with Majmaah University to cooperate in several areas.
The agreement was signed at the center’s headquarters in Riyadh by Dr. Aqeel Al-Ghamdi, assistant supervisor general director for planning and development at KSrelief, and Dr. Mosallam Al-Dosari, vice-rector for development and investment.
The deal aims to foster cooperation in humanitarian research and boost participation from both sides in conferences, workshops, meetings, exhibitions, and other events related to the field. The two parties are also exploring the possibility of holding a workshop on humanitarian research and studies on the sidelines of the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum, organized by KSrelief every two years.
Moreover, the memorandum aims to promote cooperation in volunteering by leveraging the university’s cadres, competencies, and CIFAL center, a UN-affiliated training hub that educates government authorities and civil society leaders on sustainable development and other UN goals.
The memorandum will also allow for the two entities to share consultancy services on relief and humanitarian work, draw on each other’s experiences, and benefit from capacity-building programs provided by the university’s CIFAL center.
The agreement comes in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives, which encourage cooperation between various national actors and the promotion of humanitarian action in the Kingdom.
Date confirmed for Health Tourism Future Forum in Riyadh
- Event will showcase the Kingdom’s importance as a promising global market for health
- Aim is to attract visitors, interested parties, and investors from all over the world, as well as promote major projects, such as Amaala
RIYADH: The Health Tourism Association has revealed what is in store at its future forum, which will be held in Riyadh from April 28-30.
The event, which is being organized by the Health Tourism Club and the Health Tourism Association in partnership with the Global Healthcare Travel Council, will showcase the Kingdom’s importance as a promising global market for health tourism, presenting investment opportunities in the tourism and healthcare sectors, along with new destinations, while hoping to establish a new annual global platform for the industry in Riyadh.
The aim is to attract visitors, interested parties, and investors from all over the world, as well as promote major projects, such as Amaala, in an effort to make the Kingdom an attractive destination for safe, high-quality healthcare with international accreditation.
The press conference preceding the event spoke of patients seeking healthcare benefiting from the advanced system in the country and the extensive network of distinguished, high-quality hospitals and medical centers throughout the Kingdom.
Scent of success as Saudi Arabia aims for 2bn roses
- Reef Saudi, which focuses on enhancing productivity of vital agricultural crops, announced a 34 percent increase in rose production last year
- Reef also seeks to diversify agricultural production across rural areas, while ensuring optimal and sustainable use of natural agricultural and water resources
RIYADH: Reef Saudi, a sustainable agricultural rural development program, has almost doubled rose production in the past four years, increasing from 500 million roses in 2020 to 960 million roses, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The program, which focuses on enhancing productivity of vital agricultural crops, announced a 34 percent increase in rose production last year, and said it aims to reach a figure of 2 billion roses by 2026.
Reef also seeks to diversify agricultural production across rural areas, while ensuring optimal and sustainable use of natural agricultural and water resources.
As part of the program, plant nurseries have been established around the Kingdom, with mobile clinics to diagnose plant diseases.
The Reef program aims to raise the living standard of farmers and rural families, increase efficiency and productivity, and improve food security.
It has developed six sectors: fruit, coffee, honey, rose, rainfed agriculture, and a support program for rural families in agriculture.
Sports medicine professionals gather at global event in Riyadh
- ECOSEP conference will run until April 27 at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC under the supervision of the MOVE Center for Comprehensive Sports Medicine
- MOVE Center is a specialized integrated sports medicine facility, that places a focus on diagnosing, treating, rehabilitating, educating and protecting athletes from sports injuries
RIYADH: A major global sports medicine conference began in Riyadh on Thursday, with more than 60 speakers arriving in the Saudi capital from 15 countries around the world.
The European College of Sports and Exercise Physicians (ECOSEP) conference, one of the largest events in the industry worldwide, will run until April 27 at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC under the supervision of the MOVE Center for Comprehensive Sports Medicine.
The MOVE Center is the first facility specialized in integrated sports medicine in the Kingdom, focusing on diagnosing, treating, rehabilitating, educating and protecting athletes from sports injuries.
Dr. Mubarak Al-Mutawa, the center’s CEO, said: “One of our main goals at MOVE is medical prevention. When I take one’s measurements and weight, and evaluate their condition, I always solve them with preventative solutions.
“The world is taking the lead toward the importance of being cautious and aware. A quality life consists of good nutrition and staying active because those factors prevent chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.”
Nikos Malliaropoulos, ECOSEP secretary general and a sports consultant, told Arab News that constant learning is the most important part of working in sports medicine.
“It (sports medicine) is starting to expand all over the world and I am really happy that we are here today in Saudi Arabia, opening the doors to sports exercise medicine.
“I think it is important as Saudi Arabia will host the World Cup in 10 years. So, over the next 10 years, this knowledge needs to be expanded to all healthcare professionals. This course changed my life and my practice 20 years ago. It was the motivation and the drive to develop that.”
Dr. Amir Pakravan, a consultant in sport and musculoskeletal medicine, as well as an ECOSEP board member, told Arab News that he previously had experience working in fast-paced medical environments, which prepared him for his job as a sports consultant.
When he is on the field, Pakravan ensures that he has a checklist of procedures memorized at all times, to ensure a quick response if an athlete is injured.
“What I would say to myself is to stick to the one, two, three and four of your list and check that you have done all of them. That focus on procedure is important.”
The three-day conference will host a series of workshops as well as sessions with industry leaders and officials.
It comes as an extension of efforts in the Saudi sports sector under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
47th Saudi relief plane for Gazans arrives in Egypt
- The aid will be transported from Egypt’s Al-Arish International Airport into Gaza
- Relief is part of the Kingdom’s historic role in supporting Palestinian people in times of crisis
RIYADH: The 47th Saudi relief plane carrying medical and shelter supplies for the people of Gaza arrived in Egypt on Wednesday evening.
The aid will be transported from Egypt’s Al-Arish International Airport into Gaza.
The plane was operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in coordination with the Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The aid is part of the Kingdom’s historic role in supporting Palestinian people in times of crisis, SPA added.
