Riyadh’s Battle Against Invasive Plant Species
In a recent report by the Saudi Press Agency, Weqaa, the National Center for the Prevention and Control of Plant Pests and Animal Diseases, has unveiled the most invasive plant types wreaking havoc in the Kingdom.
The Culprits
Among the invasive plants identified by the technical team are the notorious prickly pear, two types of Austrocylindropuntia (Hudson pear cactus and Eve’s needle cactus), mesquite (Prosopis), tree tobacco, parthenium, lantanas, two types of argemone, sweet rush plant, and two types of reeds (the common reed and the giant reed).
Fighting Back
Weqaa’s CEO, Ayman bin Saad Al-Ghamdi, expressed the team’s dedication to controlling the spread of these invasive species through field visits and research efforts. Currently, the project is focusing on tackling the opuntia cylindrica and tree tobacco.
Collaborating with experts from the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International, Weqaa is working on creating a unique atlas for identifying and diagnosing invasive plants to effectively combat their proliferation.
Protecting Plant Health
Al-Ghamdi emphasized the vital role of the phytosanitary sector in monitoring and controlling plant pests and diseases, implementing good agricultural practices, and safeguarding biodiversity. This project is part of the Integrated Pest Management scheme under the National Transformation Program, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030 to ensure plant production and economic development.