The 2024 National Greening Season has officially launched under the patronage of His Excellency Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadli, Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture and Chairman of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC).
The event, held under the slogan “We Plant it for Our Future,” brought together prominent environmental leaders, including NCVC CEO Dr. Khaled bin Abdullah Al-Abdulkader, as well as senior executives from partner organizations supporting the National Greening Program.
This initiative, bolstered by the involvement of multiple sectors, reaffirms the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
At the launch, Dr Khaled Al-Abdulkader emphasized the Kingdom’s strategic focus on Greening efforts, he said: “This year, we aim to deepen awareness of the essential role that afforestation plays in expanding vegetation cover, mitigating land degradation, and promoting environmental sustainability.”
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“Our objectives also include curbing harmful practices and encouraging the planting of native species to support biodiversity and resilient ecosystems.”
Dr. Al-Abdulkader further highlighted the Kingdom’s ambitious progress under the Saudi Green Initiative, with the ultimate goal of Growing 10 Billion Trees, equivalent to rehabilitating 40 million hectares.
He also highlighted that this target will be achieved through strong partnerships across public and private sectors, non-profit organizations, and a vibrant culture of community volunteerism—all aligned with the Kingdom’s sustainable development goals.
The 2024 National Greening Season prioritizes efforts to enhance vegetation cover, address land degradation, and raise awareness of greening’s role in countering desertification and preventing unsustainable practices like uncontrolled grazing and illegal logging.
By focusing on planting native species that are well-suited to local ecosystems, the season aims to foster long-term environmental resilience.
This year’s campaign builds on previous successes, marking a new phase in the Kingdom’s greening journey. To date, over 95 Million Trees have been planted across the Kingdom, with efforts spanning the public, private, and non-profit sectors.
These achievements have resulted in rehabilitating 118,000 hectares of land and protecting over 4.3 million hectares. The current season aims to further advance the Saudi Green Initiative’s vision of Growing 10 Billion Trees.
The NCVC continues its mission to develop, protect, and monitor vegetation sites throughout the Kingdom, rehabilitate degraded areas, oversee rangelands, and safeguard forests and national parks.
These efforts play a crucial role in promoting sustainable development and improving the quality of life across Saudi Arabia.
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