Agadir: CEO of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) Dr. Khaled Al-Abdulkader participated in a high-level international meeting on forests, held in Agadir, Morocco, in support of the United Nations Forum on Forests. In his address, Dr. Al-Abdulkader reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to involving local communities in the strategic planning and sustainable management of forests. He emphasized that empowering these communities-either through incentives to sustainably benefit from natural resources or through awareness and training programs-ensures the long-term protection and development of forest ecosystems.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Dr. Al-Abdulkader noted that Saudi Arabia is implementing a wide range of initiatives aimed at deepening the connection between people and forests. These efforts include adopting agroforestry practices, promoting nature-based solutions, regulating grazing within forest areas, and reducing the risk of wildfires. The country is also supporting community-based use of forests through designated honey production zones, investments in economically valuable plant species, and support for rural development projects that contribute to food security and promote ecotourism.
Dr. Al-Abdulkader highlighted that several major national initiatives, including the Saudi Green Initiative-which targets the planting of 10 billion trees-and the Middle East Green Initiative-which aims to plant 50 billion trees across the region-have local communities at the heart of their strategies. These efforts have already delivered concrete outcomes, with over 142 million trees planted through the National Greening Program, considered a key roadmap for achieving the Saudi Green Initiative's objectives.
He also emphasized Saudi Arabia's commitment to enhancing community engagement through its participation in significant global environmental events, including the Conference of the Parties (COP16) and World Environment Day 2024. Furthermore, the country is actively pursuing its bid to host the 27th Session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission, underlining its central role in regional and global sustainability efforts.
This international participation coincides with Saudi Arabia's current presidency of the 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), reinforcing its leadership in driving global action for land restoration and sustainability.