RIYADH: The concept of having 'all year round spring' seems like a dreamy thought and an ambitious goal to achieve in a desert climate such as that in Saudi Arabia. Yet, environmental consultant Oubaid Alouni argues to differ.
Through the preservation of seeds and planting flowers suitable for each season, Alouni believes the vegetation cover will have the opportunity to flourish and paint the Saudi desert all year long.
"There are flowers that bloom in the summer, there are flowers in the spring, and there are flowers in the autumn... This is what we call 'all year round spring' because these flowers help in the cycle of life," Said Alouni.
He provides an example of one of the significant species, the honeybee, which relies on flowers for its survival. Therefore, it is critical to preserve flowers, along with pollinators, to have not only a balanced ecosystem but also economic stability for beekeepers, he said.
In his perspective, "The greater the number of flowers, the stronger the pollinators, indicating flower maturity."
He further explained the concept of 'environmental sustainability,' which he believes extends beyond flowers and pollinators.
Alouni highlighted that ensuring the health of flowers influences the health of other species, referring back to the honeybees and pollinators.
He said that bird species also consider pollinators and other bugs as food; thus, if there is a lack of pollinators, we will have an imbalance in the number of birds.
"If an element is missing, the other elements will be affected... resulting in an imbalance in the ecological pyramid," He commented.
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To help restore the environmental conditions in the Kingdom, Alouni discussed the importance of raising awareness about the need to protect and improve the vegetation cover.
In the past, people lacked adequate knowledge and awareness, and there were very few environmental activists advocating for this cause.
"Despite the efforts being made, there was a lack of support. The volunteers were few, and people were surprised by our work. There was no environmental awareness. Unfortunately, our efforts went unheard," Said Alouni.
However, thanks to the continuous changes that have been taking place in the country in recent years, environmental sustainability has been elevated to among the top priorities of overall development in Saudi Arabia.
One of the major centers dedicated to environmental protection is the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC).
NCVC launched an initiative in the past few weeks to plant one million seedlings from mother seed sources. This initiative has led to a significant qualitative improvement in the production of local seeds, enhancing the efficiency of collection, preservation, and propagation processes.
Seed production has increased from 30 tons last year to more than 80 tons this year, a rise of about 167%. It reflects the direct impact of the initiative in strengthening national seed resources and boosting the Center's production capacity.
This increase enables the rehabilitation of more than 30,000 hectares of natural rangelands annually. The seeds are used after being scattered across degraded rangelands and targeted rehabilitation areas to restore natural vegetation cover and reestablish ecological balance in those locations, thereby contributing to environmental sustainability and combating desertification in Saudi Arabia.
As a result of this commitment, the Kingdom achieved a Guinness World Record for the world's most extensive seasonal seed storage collection. This international achievement showcases Saudi Arabia's leadership in protecting plant biodiversity and preserving the genetic resources of wild plants.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Approximately 60-80% of plants and trees worldwide require pollinators, according to Saudi environmentalist Oubaid Alouni.
• Seed production has increased from 30 to more than 80 tonnes over the past year, a rise of around 167%, which NCVS says enables the rehabilitation of over 30,000 hectares of natural rangelands annually.
• Among the flowers that grow in Saudi Arabia are the common poppy, poppy anemone, and lavender.
In addition, during the conversation with Alouni, he mentioned the invitation he received to participate in a volunteer activity to plant native seeds in the wild, which represents the dedication and care of the officials.
"The efforts have increased. We also aspire for more, and we don't stop at this level." Alouni said.
He concluded: "Some say we should stop here, no, no, no, the environment is thirsty, and our environment is beautiful… It's wonderful."
"People who believed that the Common poppy or Poppy anemone couldn't grow in Najd (the center region) and could only grow in the northern region, are now growing in Najd and are one of its most beautiful and picturesque landscapes."
