Saudi Arabia’s Efforts to Protect Mangrove Forests
In a bid to safeguard the Kingdom’s mangrove forests, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, along with the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, are ramping up their conservation efforts.
Mangrove forests, occupying only 0.5 percent of the global coastal areas, are under threat from pollution, construction, shrimp farming, and urban expansion, leading to their decline, as reported by Saudi Press Agency.
These stunning ecosystems play a crucial role in beach erosion prevention, water purification, carbon storage for climate change mitigation, and providing habitats for marine and wildlife, along with economic and social benefits.
The ministry and center are undertaking various initiatives regionally and internationally to protect mangroves, including planting along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coastlines in alignment with the Saudi Green Initiative. Research is also ongoing to address restoration challenges in harsh environments.
Committing to protecting and expanding mangrove forests, the center is collaborating with public, private, and non-profit partners on development projects along the Kingdom’s coasts. Their goal is to plant 13 million mangrove trees, part of the national target of 100 million by 2030, while raising awareness and educating local communities on preservation methods.
In a recent event marking the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, over 100 volunteers joined a mangrove planting initiative organized by Saudi develop Red Sea Global, with ministry representatives and students from the Red Sea Global English for Tourism program in attendance.
Highlighting the carbon removal capabilities of mangrove trees, a spokesman from RSG emphasized their importance in enriching the natural environment. The company has already transplanted a million seedlings and plans to grow 2 million more this year from the Red Sea Mangrove Nursery, part of their larger “From People to Planet” program engaging the community and visitors in planting initiatives.