Saudi Arabia Marks Environmental Milestone with Large-Scale Land Restoration
Saudi Arabia has achieved a significant environmental breakthrough by transforming degraded land into thriving green cover on a massive scale. This progress underscores a sustained national effort to restore ecosystems, increase vegetation, and combat desertification across the Kingdom.
Key Achievements Under the Saudi Green Initiative
Under the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI), launched in 2021 by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country has successfully restored one million hectares of degraded land and planted more than 159 million trees. This milestone represents a crucial step toward the initiative's ambitious goals of planting 10 billion trees and rehabilitating 40 million hectares nationwide.
Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Alfadley emphasized that this achievement reflects the leadership's strong commitment to environmental sustainability as part of Saudi Vision 2030. He detailed the progression of restoration efforts, which began with just 18,000 hectares, expanded to 250,000 hectares by 2024, and reached the one-million-hectare mark in early 2026.
Driving Factors and Future Targets
The success has been propelled by coordinated actions among government bodies, the private sector, and local communities. Alfadley highlighted the initiative's role in preserving biodiversity and native plant species, while also noting the importance of royal reserves and advanced water harvesting techniques in sustaining these environmental gains. "This success embodies a unified national effort," he stated, adding that the work is enhancing wildlife conservation and ecosystem resilience.
Looking ahead, the current progress sets the foundation for the next target of restoring 2.5 million hectares by 2030. This expansion will be supported by projects such as dam water utilization and rainfall harvesting, which are expected to facilitate long-term growth in green cover.
Technological Innovations and International Recognition
Vice Minister Eng. Mansour Almushaiti described the milestone as a "qualitative leap" toward the Kingdom's environmental objectives. He pointed out that it aligns with the SGI's broader targets and highlighted specialized programs like the National Cloud Seeding Program. This initiative has increased rainfall and contributed to a 50 percent reduction in dust storms in 2025 compared to the previous year.
The achievement has garnered international acclaim. Dr. Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), praised Saudi Arabia's efforts, noting that they demonstrate an integrated approach and clear political will. "This achievement proves that land restoration is possible even in the most challenging environments," she remarked.
She also acknowledged that the Kingdom's initiatives, including the Middle East Green Initiative and hosting the COP16 of the UNCCD, are strengthening global cooperation on land restoration efforts.
