JEDDAH: The 27th session of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Near East Forestry and Range Commission ended in Jeddah on Wednesday, with members welcoming the decision to develop a regional early warning system integrating weather and vegetation data to prevent damage.
Over the three-day summit, discussions and specialized workshops focused on mobilizing joint efforts to achieve environmental sustainability.
The commission also recommended that the FAO continue supporting the development of national fire management strategies aligned with international standards and national contexts, while encouraging the testing of innovative solutions to reduce fire risks.
Members highlighted the growing impact of wildfires in the region, emphasizing their serious environmental, economic and social consequences, including threats to ecosystems, human lives, livelihoods, food security and significant greenhouse gas emissions. They noted that current droughts, extreme heatwaves and prolonged dry spells have increased wildfire risks in North Africa and West Asia, disrupting natural systems and communities and hindering progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
“Wildfires are a growing threat in many parts of the region, posing significant risks to human life, and the environment. We have to minimize the risk of extreme wildfires by being better prepared and all members agreed to start urgently of the most advanced alerts to identify such threats,” said FAO Saudi Arabia’s program director, Dr. Nizar Haddad.
Haddad praised an initiative announced during the summit by the Saudi National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification to launch the Forest Ambassadors program, in cooperation with FAO.
He said it would empower entrepreneurs and volunteers working in the environment sector to improve rangeland and forest areas, with the aim of training those taking part to become leaders in the forest protection and development field.
Participating countries were invited to conduct a regional assessment of investment opportunities in forest and rangeland restoration, including economic feasibility analyses and scalable models. Members were also encouraged to support countries in improving financing opportunities for ecosystem restoration programs that deliver sustainable environmental and social benefits.
On the final day, the summit reaffirmed participating countries’ commitment to these efforts, stressing the importance of regional assessments and financial support to ensure the long-term success of restoration initiatives.
