RIYADH: Buraidah Oasis has received international accreditation for its water and carbon sustainability, reported Saudi Press Agency.
The site’s carbon footprint report, certified by a German government board, revealed it has zero emissions and serves as a giant reservoir that absorbs carbon from the atmosphere at a rate of 0.12 percent per year.
The certificate of accreditation was presented to National Water Company CEO Fuad Al-Sheikh Mubarak.
As the first anniversary since its launch approaches, a spokesperson for the National Water Company-sponsored project described the oasis as one of the Kingdom’s “most important projects related to environmental sustainability efforts.”
The Buraidah Oasis is home to a million trees, surrounding a lake holding 86,000 cubic meters of treated water produced from the National Water Company’s plant — part of its vision for sustainability and environmental regeneration.
Irrigated with recycled water from the treatment plant, the project forms part of the company’s contribution to the Saudi Green Initiative.
A reem antelope sanctuary was recently opened in the oasis, with 15 antelopes recently released into the sanctuary which occupies an area of 50,000 square meters.
Earlier in October, Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, said that the biodiversity of the oasis was assessed regularly to determine the importance of releasing endangered species, including both resident and migratory animals.
