New York City: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is participating in the 20th session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF20), which is currently being held at the UN Headquarters in York City. The forum has convened delegations and environmental and forestry experts from across the globe.
According to Saudi Press Agency, during the opening session, head of the Saudi Delegation Dr. Najeeb Alsubhi delivered the Kingdom's national statement. In his address, Dr. Alsubhi underscored Saudi Arabia's local and regional initiatives to protect and develop its forests. He further emphasized the critical need for enhanced international cooperation to ensure the long-term sustainability and effective conservation of forest ecosystems worldwide.
In the second session of the first day, Director of Mangrove Forests at the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) and a member of the Saudi delegation Dr. Saleh Alzamanan highlighted the significance of supporting and empowering local communities to derive sustainable benefits from forests, aligning these practices with overarching environmental objectives.
The UN Forum on Forests serves as the world's preeminent platform for dialogue concerning forest protection, development, and sustainability. Its core objectives include promoting sustainable forest management, conserving vital natural resources, balancing economic development with environmental sustainability, monitoring progress towards the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030, reversing global forest loss, expanding protected forest areas, and strengthening forests' role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Saudi Arabia's participation in UNFF20 underscores its unwavering commitment to preserving vegetation cover, addressing pressing environmental challenges, and assuming a leading role in forest development and sustainability initiatives. The Kingdom recognizes forests' crucial role in combating desertification and climate change, reducing ambient temperatures, and enhancing biodiversity as integral components of broader sustainable development goals.
As part of the forum's agenda, the NCVC is scheduled to organize a side event this Wednesday in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This event will showcase Saudi Arabia's dedicated efforts in forest protection and development while fostering global cooperation to achieve forest sustainability.
The NCVC continues spearheading various initiatives to enhance sustainable forest vegetation across the Kingdom. The ambitious "Grow 60 Million Trees" initiative is a key undertaking that targets rehabilitating 300,000 hectares of land by 2030. Furthermore, the NCVC enforces the Executive Regulation for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, specifically focusing on Article Six governing forests. This article mandates preparing and implementing a national sustainable forest management plan and regulating grazing activities within forest areas.