Riyadh: The National Water Company (NWC) announced today that it has planted more than 5.2 million trees across the Kingdom’s regions within its endeavor to expand vegetation cover, address global climate change challenges, and support the Saudi Green Initiative.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the tree-planting initiative covered several locations within its clusters in all regions of the Kingdom. It planted more than 554,000 trees in the central cluster, 1.6 million in the northwestern cluster, 195,000 in the eastern, 2.4 million in the northern, 334,000 in the southern, and 36,000 trees in the western cluster.
The NWC stated that afforestation efforts will contribute to the protection of the environment through improving air quality, reducing the effects of sandstorms, combating desertification, reducing temperatures, preserving and maintaining wildlife and biodiversity, and restoring the natural environment in the Kingdom. It noted that the trees planted included Neem, Seder, Salam, coastal Khubbaiz, Q
arad trees, Samar, Acacia, and Calligonum.
It also highlighted NWC efforts to enhance vegetation cover in the Kingdom by initiating afforestation of its sites and surrounding areas of sewage treatment and drinking water purification plants. It aims to supply renewable water from these treatment plants according to approved quality specifications and standards, and to implement best irrigation methods in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.