Safeguarding Saudi Arabia’s precious forests

Forests in Saudi Arabia are cornerstones of ecological stability, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and food security.

Under the Saudi Green Initiative and the long-term pursuit of planting 10 billion trees and restoring 40 million hectares of degraded lands, Saudi Arabia is achieving remarkable progress, drawing on rigorous research, dynamic collaborations and effective field implementation.

The General Directorate of Forests alone has successfully planted more than 3.5 million trees across diverse ecosystems, from mountains to valleys and coastal zones, bolstering carbon sequestration and strengthening the Kingdom’s natural defenses against desertification and land degradation.

Equally significant is the identification of more than 645 sites classified as forest lands, which we are actively protecting and rehabilitating to safeguard genetic diversity and conserve invaluable wildlife habitats.

Alongside these field efforts, the National Forest Inventory of Saudi Arabia represents a pivotal step toward a comprehensive understanding of the Saudi forests.

By systematically surveying and classifying forest lands and analyzing their vegetation cover, this project will enable more precise planning and informed decision-making for forest conservation and sustainable development.

These integrated measures exemplify the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainable forest management, balancing ecological imperatives with socioeconomic needs.

Eduardo Mansur

Our strategic forest plan guides these achievements. We act to establish protective boundaries, install educational signage and deploy advanced monitoring systems to prevent illegal logging, wildfires and other environmental threats.

We also have a specific program to involve local communities in the conservation and sustainable management of forests, generating ecosystem services and sustainable non-wood forest products such as honey and aromatic plants.

These integrated measures exemplify the Kingdom’s commitment to sustainable forest management, balancing ecological imperatives with socioeconomic needs.

Looking ahead, the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification will continue to build on best practices through a multifaceted approach that includes restoring and safeguarding forests in mountainous regions, valleys and mangroves.

By expanding greening efforts, reinforcing forest conservation, involving local communities and harnessing cutting-edge research to monitor ecological health, the General Directorate of Forests at the NCVC reaffirms its dedication to maintaining Saudi Arabia’s forests as vital pillars of environmental balance, biodiversity and sustainable development for current and future generations.

• Eduardo Mansur is general manager of Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Forests at the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification.