Saudi Arabia Leads Global Fight Against Desertification

Saudi Arabia is spearheading the global battle against desertification and land degradation. The Kingdom has pledged significant efforts to restore its environment through ambitious initiatives like the Saudi Green and Middle East Green initiatives.

A Global Call to Action

Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the FAO, emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to combating desertification during a recent event at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization headquarters in Rome. He urged the international community to join the fight by participating in COP 16, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification summit, which will be hosted in Riyadh from December 2 to 13 this year.

Saudi Arabia aims to rehabilitate a staggering 200 million hectares of land through its ambitious green initiatives. The Kingdom recognizes the urgent need to address land degradation, which poses a significant threat to food security and climate stability. Raja Omar, an adviser at the National Center for Vegetation Cover in Saudi Arabia, highlighted the country’s comprehensive approach to restoring diverse landscapes, from rangelands to mangroves, while emphasizing the importance of long-term sustainability.

Global Challenge

The world is grappling with the pressing issue of desertification. Indeed, as Zhimin Wu, director of the FAO’s Forestry Division, has warned, a staggering one-third of agricultural land has already been degraded as a result of human activities. Consequently, the upcoming COP 16 summit in Riyadh emerges as a crucial platform for nations to unite and establish ambitious goals for land restoration.

Saudi Arabia’s leadership in addressing this challenge stands as an inspiration to the global community. By sharing its knowledge and resources, the kingdom can catalyze international cooperation. In doing so, the world can collectively work towards reversing land degradation and safeguarding our planet for future generations.

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