Northern Borders launches major tree-planting campaign

The campaign aims to plant more than 11,000 seedlings in Rafha as part of a phased afforestation plan. (SPA)
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Updated 08 November 2025
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Northern Borders launches major tree-planting campaign

RIYADH: The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification in the Northern Borders has launched a large-scale tree-planting campaign across several locations.

Government agencies, volunteers and environmentally conscious individuals are taking part, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

The campaign aims to plant more than 11,000 seedlings in Rafha as part of a phased afforestation plan to expand green spaces and enhance the environmental landscape.

The initiative supports national efforts to develop vegetation, protect natural resources, maintain ecological balance and restore biodiversity, in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals for environmental sustainability and improved quality of life.

Recently, the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority planted more than 3,000 seedlings in its nursery in the Jouf region.

The project supports the authority’s efforts to protect the environment and expand vegetation cover as part of its vision for a greener, more sustainable future, the SPA reported.

Volunteers from educational institutions across the region took part in the tree-planting campaign, part of the authority’s involvement in the National Greening Season.

So far, the authority’s environmental initiatives have included planting almost 4 million seedlings and rehabilitating 750,000 hectares of degraded land.

The restoration projects aim to revive ecosystems affected by desertification and overgrazing, helping to restore natural plant life and preserve the Kingdom’s biodiversity.


Saudi Arabia, regional partners reject any move to displace Palestinians from Gaza

Updated 05 December 2025
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Saudi Arabia, regional partners reject any move to displace Palestinians from Gaza

  • Expressed deep concern over Israeli statements about the opening of the Rafah crossing in one direction only

RIYADH: The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye and Qatar on Friday expressed deep concern over Israeli statements about the opening of the Rafah crossing in one direction only, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

In a joint statement, the ministers said it was a move that could facilitate the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip into Egypt.

They firmly rejected any attempts to force Palestinians from their land, stressing the need for full adherence to the plan put forward by US President Donald Trump, which stipulated opening of the Rafah crossing in both directions and guaranteeing freedom of movement without coercion.

The ministers emphasized that conditions must be created to allow Palestinians to remain on their land and take part in rebuilding their homeland, under a comprehensive framework aimed at restoring stability and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

They reiterated their appreciation for Trump’s commitment to regional peace and underscored the importance of implementing his plan in full and without obstruction.

The statement also highlighted the urgent need for a sustained ceasefire, an end to civilian suffering, unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, and the launch of early recovery and reconstruction efforts.

The ministers further called for conditions that would enable the Palestinian Authority to resume its responsibilities in the enclave.

The eight countries reaffirmed their readiness to continue coordinating with the US and international partners to ensure full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and other relevant resolutions, in pursuit of a just and lasting peace based on international law and the two-state solution, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.