NEOM, the sustainable regional development organization in northwestern Saudi Arabia, on Sunday launched a re-greening initiative to plant 100 million native trees, shrubs, and grasses by 2030.
As part of its program to restore at least 1.5 million hectares of land, the NEOM initiative provides for the return of 100 million native trees, shrubs, and grasses by 2030 to restore degraded lands and rehabilitate wildlife habitats.
The initiative was announced at the International Exhibition and Forum on Afforestation Technologies taking place in Riyadh and will be carried out in cooperation with the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification.
NEOM Chief Executive Officer Nadhmi Al-Nasr said: «Protecting the natural landscape and ensuring the coexistence of humans and the natural habitat are an integral part of NEOM's vision.».
He continued: «By launching the NEOM Greening Initiative in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, we are advancing toward becoming a leading participant in the conservation and preservation of one of the world's outstanding natural environments.».
National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification Director General Dr. Khaled Alabulkader said that the new initiative put forward by NEOM «will have a great impact on supporting efforts aimed at protecting the environment, advancing nature, and ensuring its sustainability, as well as directly contributing to achieving the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative.».
NEOM is participating in the International Exhibition and Forum on Afforestation Technologies as a main sponsor as part of its efforts to provide sustainable solutions to the most pressing global environmental challenges and to help the Kingdom implement its initiative to plant 10 billion trees, the Saudi Green Initiative.