RIYADH: The Kingdom’s National Water Co. has planted more than 1 million trees across various areas of the Madinah region, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
It is part of the Saudi Green Initiative that aims to plant 10 billion trees, combat desertification, increase vegetation cover, raise environmental awareness, and optimize the utilization of water produced by wastewater treatment plants.
By strategically selecting the regions surrounding the wastewater treatment plants, the National Water Co. ensures that all the trees are nourished with the treated water generated by these facilities.
This approach contributes to the Kingdom’s environmental equilibrium and improves overall quality of life in the region, the SPA said.
Saudi Arabia has been one of the biggest supporters of green living. It is developing many projects around the country, including environmental schemes, to improve quality of life and help counter the effects of climate change worldwide.
The National Water Co. stressed its commitment to expanding tree planting during suitable agricultural seasons that align with the local environment, supporting afforestation initiatives in different regions of the Kingdom, and fostering partnerships with relevant entities, as well as utilizing treated water, to facilitate agricultural expansion and achieve the Saudi Green Initiative objectives.
In October 2023, Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli launched an initiative to revitalize 100 natural parks across the Kingdom, covering more than 225,000 ha in its initial phase.
The initiative involves planting more than 12 million wild trees and shrubs in the targeted areas, fostering environmental sustainability and enhancing quality of life, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative.
The Kingdom’s National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification oversees various tasks within the initiative, including raising awareness about the significance of natural parks.
