Greening the Kingdom: Saudi Arabia Revives 750,000 Hectares in Royal Reserve

Sakaka – Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority announced on Friday that 750,000 hectares of previously degraded land have been successfully rehabilitated under its ongoing restoration and greening programs.

According to a report by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on the occasion of World Agriculture Day, the authority has also planted nearly 4 million seedlings across the reserve, which spans 130,700 square kilometers. To support natural regeneration of forests and rangelands, teams have dispersed 7,500 kilograms of local seeds, including yarrow, artemisia, and haloxylon.

These efforts are part of the broader Saudi Green Initiative, launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on March 27, 2021. The initiative aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, focusing on combating climate change, reducing carbon emissions, increasing afforestation, and protecting land and marine ecosystems.

The reserve, established by royal order in June 2018 and named after King Salman, consolidates protected areas across the Kingdom’s northern provinces of Tabuk, Northern Borders, Al-Jouf, and Hail. Restoration projects aim to reclaim lands affected by desertification and overgrazing, allowing native plant life to return and thrive.

The reserve hosts over 550 plant species and has relocated 1,235 wildlife species, including Arabian oryx, sand gazelles, Arabian gazelles, and Arabian leopards. It is also a crucial stopover for migratory birds, serving as their first station in the Kingdom from Asia and Europe in the fall, and the last before departing to Africa in spring.

These achievements reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to environmental preservation, biodiversity protection, and sustainable development, ensuring natural resources are safeguarded for future generations.