RIYADH: A new project launched in Riyadh aims to optimize water use and conserve resources, aligning with Vision 2030 goals, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
Khaled Al-Abdulkader, CEO of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, and Yazeed Al-Asheikh, vice president for graduate studies and scientific research at King Saud University, launched the project.
It will estimate water needs of native species like haloxylon persicum, ziziphus spina-christi, calligonum comosum, and vachellia gerrardii in Riyadh and Qassim.
The project will also evaluate the impact of biochar on water efficiency and sustainable growth, according to the SPA.
Additionally, it will assess carbon storage potential of native species in Riyadh and Qassim, as well as mangroves in Asir and Jazan, across various ecosystems.
At the launch, the team presented the project’s objectives, phases, and expected outcomes. Field visits have begun to identify key locations and plant communities.
The center continues to implement initiatives to establish sustainable vegetation cover throughout the Kingdom, including conservation, ecosystem rehabilitation, biodiversity restoration, rangeland management, and the protection of natural resources.
