Saudi Arabia Leads the Charge in Combating Land Degradation
In a global summit held in Rome, Saudi Arabia showcased the latest developments and challenges in the fight against land degradation.
Led by Khaled Alabdulkader, the CEO of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, a Saudi delegation participated in the event organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
The Kingdom’s readiness to host the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and Land Degradation in December was also emphasized during the summit, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
Representatives from various government bodies, including the National Center for Environmental Compliance, the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, and the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the FAO, Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, were part of the Saudi team.
During the event, gratitude was expressed towards the FAO and participating members for their support of COP16 and their focus on the importance of land restoration.
Attendees were encouraged to join the global efforts to combat land degradation by participating in COP16 in Riyadh.
Speakers at the summit highlighted Saudi Arabia’s initiatives to restore ecosystems, including forest and dryland projects, in preparation for hosting COP16.
The Saudi and Middle East Green initiatives were also discussed, with a focus on their potential impact in reducing land degradation, which currently affects approximately 30 percent of the land area based on international statistics.
The diverse terrain and natural resources of the Kingdom were acknowledged as facing environmental challenges, prompting the implementation of long-term plans under the Saudi Green Initiative to address desertification, land degradation, and sand encroachment.
Furthermore, the Middle East Green Initiative aims to restore 200 million hectares of land in 20 countries, showcasing the region’s commitment to combating land degradation.